Abstract
Fiberoptic bronchoscopic examination of 53 cases of malignant tumors metastatic to the lung revealed abnormal findings in 41 (77%). Of these lesions with an irregular surface frequently covered with white necrotic tissue (primarily mucosal type) were observed in 21 cases. Typically the primary lesion in such cases was located in the colon or kidney. Intramural type lesions, i.e. those proliferating in the bronchial wall covered with histologically normal bronchial mucosa, were observed in 11 cases. In 9 cases only compression from beyond the bronchial wall with no tumor formation was observed (extramural type). Cases fitting our definition of endobronchial metastasis, i.e. lesions in which the proximal margin is within the observation range of a standard fiberoptic bronchoscope, proliferating in the bronchial lumen and without findings suggestive of invasion in the bronchial wall surrounding the proximal margin of the lesion, were recognized in 16 cases (30%). Cases of endobronchial metastasis must be distinguished from peripherally originating adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the lung and primarily submucosal type must be distinguished from large cell carcinoma of the lung. In evaluating such lesions it is important to always consider the possibility of metastatic lung lesions.
