Abstract
For early detection of lung cancer associated with pneumoconiosis, we carried out sputum cytology in patients with pneumoconiosis who visited Iwamizawa Rosai Hospital from July, 1975 to December, 1982.
We detected 54 cases of lung cancer out of 12, 000 man year patients with pneumoconiosis. 42 (77.8%) out of 54 cases of lung cancer were detected by sputum cytology. The positivity of sputum cytology was 87.1% in patients with squamous cell carcinoma and 89.5% particularly in those with squamous cell carcinoma of hilar type.
With respect to squamous cell carcinoma, sputum cytology was detectable even in the early stage (Stage I, II). However, early diagnosis by sputum cytology was unable in patients with adenocarcinoma, small cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma.
The results above suggest that sputum cytology taken several times a year regularly and yearly is effective as early diagnosis of lung cancer for those who have chronic lung diseases such as pneumoconiosis and pulmonary tuberculosis and for those who have high risk of occupational lung cancer.
