[The satellite lymph node of surgically-treated epidermoid bronchial cancer. Evaluation and meaning. Apropos of 167 cases].

This study is based on the analysis of the radiological and histological features of the lymph nodes in 167 operated cases of bronchial carcinoma. The conventional evaluation by means of radiography demonstrates the difficulty of accurately diagnosing lymph node involvement; these investigations are simply able to reveal the presence or absence of enlarged lymph nodes without being able to distinguish between neoplastic and purely inflammatory lymphadenopathy. Histological examination demonstrates the presence of hilar and mediastinal node involvement: the first does not influence the survival in contrast with the second which seems to reflect an intense immune response.