ROLE OF BRONCHIAL ANGIOGRAPHY IN DIAGNOSIS OF LUNG CANCER.

Abstract

Bronchial angiograms performed on 74 patients with pulmonary mass lesion from 1973 through 1977 were reviewed. Angiographic findings of 43 patients with pathologically proven lung cancer were evaluated for histopathology and hilar lymph node metastasis. Angiographic patterns of lung cancer were classified into 6 types. I : Bronchial arterial branches pour into the center of mass density, and then tumor vessels radiate peripherally. II : Neovascularity and tumor stain throughout mass density. III : Neovascularity and/or tumor stain at central portion of mass density. N : Neovascularity and/or tumor stain at peripheral portion of mass density. V : Neovascularity and/or tumor stain at proximal portion of mass density. VI : Non-visualized mass density.Among 25 cases of adenocarcinoma, 16 cases were grouped as type I, 4 as type II, 1 as type N, 2 as type V and 2 as type VI, All the cases showing type I were adenocarcinoma. Fourteen cases of squamous cell carcinoma were classified 8 cases in type II, 1 in type III, 1 in type IV, 3 in type V and 1 in type VI. Small cell carcinoma (non-oat cell type) were 2 cases in type III and 1 in type V.Hilar lymph node metastases were investigated in 35surgically proven cases. Seventeen cases showed angiographic findings of lymph node metastases, and 13 out of these 17 cases were proved to be correct pathologically. Eighteen cases were free of angiographic findings of metastases ;13 cases to be correctly diagnosed and 5 cases showed metastasis pathologically.