Abstract
The properties and locations of 128 lesions in 116 cases of roentgenographically occult lung cancer were examined. In 98 cases of resected lung cancer, the relation between the bronchoscopic findings and the depth of tumor invasion as well as the relation between the findings and the length of axial involvement of the bronchus were also analyzed. As a criterion for endoscopic detection of carcinomas, the bronchoscopic findings of tumors were classified into three groups, namely, remarkable findings, minute findings, and no abnormal findings in terms of ease of observation and diagnosis of the protruding states of the lesions. Only 65 (51%) out of 128 lesions showed remarkable findings, and 34 lesions (27%) had minute findings. No abnormal findings were observed for the other 29 lesions (23%) by a proficient bronchoscopist at the first bronchoscopic examination. Seventeen of the 29 lesions were located within the range of endoscopic visibility, and the other 12 lesions were located beyond the range of endoscopic visibility. The depths of invasion (mean±SE) of the bronchial wall in the cases with remarkable findings, minute findings, and no abnormal findings within the range of endoscopic visibility and beyond the range of endoscopic visibility were 3.07±0.40mm, 1.62±0.47mm, 0.93±0.36mm, and 0.78±0.21mm, respectively. The maximum values of the length of axial involvement of the bronchus were 19.6±1.5mm, 9.9±1.4mm, 5.5±1.0mm, and 8.6±2.1mm, respectively. Non-early stage cases accounted for 9 (17%) of 52 lesions with remarkable findings, 3 (11%) of 27 lesions with minute findings, 0 (0%) out of 8 lesions with on abnormal findings within the range of endoscopic visibility.
