Chest, Vol 100, 1028-1029, Copyright © 1991 by American College of Chest Physicians

ARTICLES

The value of submucous needle aspiration in the prediction of surgical resection line of bronchogenic carcinoma

EL York, RL Jones, EG King, MR Chaput and GK Nguyen
Division of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

The fiberoptic bronchoscope was used to perform a series of SMNAs from the tumor site in the bronchial tree toward the carina to decide on an appropriate surgical line of resection in 20 patients. The line of resection was examined histologically for tumor invasion. Of the 20 patients who underwent surgery 16 had lobectomies and four had pneumonectomies. Eighteen patients had no evidence of tumor invasion at the surgical resection site. Of the remaining two, one had a cancer- positive SMNA proximal to the resection line and demonstrated tumor cells in the surgical resection line. The second demonstrated tumor cells in the right lower and upper lobes with sparing of the right bronchus intermedius. This patient underwent lobectomy with subsequent resection of the remaining right upper lobe. On the basis of this experience we conclude that SMNA is effective in predicting the optimal surgical line of resection in lung carcinoma.