Abstract
Ten cases of oat cell carcinoma were studied cytologically, histologically and electron microscopically. Exfoliated tumor cells in sputum stained by Papanicolaou's method were compared with the cell inthe bronchial secretion or material obtained by the TV-brushing method.
Two types of tumor cell, i. e., large cell and smallcell, were observed even in the same slide of samematerial from same patient of oat cell carcinoma, and they have also two tinctorially different quality, i. e., one with light stained nucleus (light cell) andthe other with dark stained nucleus (dark cell).Tumor cells of small cell type were found in allcases, while those of large cell type were found in 8 out of 10 cases. These findings were also confirmed by the electron microscopic study.
Tumor cells of small cell type have round oroval nuclei, while tumor cells of large cell type haveround or irregularly shaped nuclei. Nuclear borderof these cancer cells is generally thin and nucleolusis not distinct.
Pycnotic nucleus which has an appearance justlike india ink spot seems to come from necrotic area.
After the Endoxan treatment, the increase in number of the light cells having granular chromatinsubstance and the increase in number of the darkcells having india ink spot were observed, and thisfinding is appeared to be useful for the evaluationof cancer chemotherapy.
