A New Vista in Pulmonary Cytology; Aerosol Induction of Sputum

¹ The Departments of Pathology, Veterans Administration Hospital, and The University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor., St. Joseph Hospital, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Hygroscopic, heated, saline-aerosol induction of sputum provides specimens which are superior to spontaneously raised sputum or bronchial aspirates for the cytologic diagnosis of bronchial carcinoma.

This new technic not only increases the sensitivity of the cytologic diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma, but provides the means for studying cells from bronchial dysplasia and early neoplasia. Studies are needed to determine the feasibility of using this procedure for detecting premalignant or early malignant changes in the bronchial mucosa.

The method is recommended for routine hospital, out-patient, and office practice. It may very well become a part of routine periodic examination as are roentgenograms of the chest and electrocardiographic examination of the heart.