The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Vol 73, 531-537, Copyright © 1977 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and The Western Thoracic Surgical Association
Histology of bronchial carcinoma and regional lymph nodes as putative immune response of the host to the tumor
M Di Paola, A Bertolotti, S Colizza and M Coli
Two hundred forty-two patients who had bronchial carcinoma and who
underwent radical surgery were studied in order to determine putative host
resistance to the tumor at histologic level, i.e., lymphocytic infiltration
in the center and around the tumor, together with sinus histiocytosis and
follicular hyperplasia in the regional lymph nodes. These features were
evaluated in a semiquantitative way, giving rise to three groups of
patients: D- (reaction absent or poor), D+ (reaction present), and D++
(strong reaction present). Five-year survival rates and the incidence of
metastases in regional nodes were significantly related to the putative
host resistance against the tumor, but no clear- cut correlation between
grade of malignancy of the tumor and histologic type was evidenced. The
significance of these reactive changes is fully discussed.
