Bronchial carcinoma and its regional lymph nodes in relation to immunological functions.

Two hundred and fifty lymph nodes from 100 patients with lung carcinoma and the same number of regional nodes from 119 patients with gastric ulcer were histologically evaluated by the standardized reporting system of COTTIER et al. Special attention was focused on the immunological reactions in these lymph nodes. Histologic features suggesting actively functioning humoral and cell-mediated immune reactions were encountered more frequently in the nodes of the control series. The significance of the histologic findings is discussed and it is concluded that there is some degree of derangement of both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in the lymph nodes draining lung carcinoma. The applicability of the reporting system used is emphasized.