A Brief Report on the Endotracheal Tube Cytology of the Upper Respiratory Tract Carcinoma.

Baek,  Woon Yi; Hong,  Jung Gil; Park,  Jin Woong; Kim,  Byung Kwon

doi:1989.22.2.243

Clinical Research Article

Korean Journal of Anesthesiology 1989;22(2):243-246.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.1989.22.2.243

A Brief Report on the Endotracheal Tube Cytology of the Upper Respiratory Tract Carcinoma.

Woon Yi Baek, Jung Gil Hong, Jin Woong Park, Byung Kwon Kim

Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook University, Taegu, Korea.

Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine the incidence of the endotrcheal tube contamination by malignant cells in patients with upper respiratory tract cancer undergoing general anesthesia. In 17 patients endotracheal intubation was done and the tube was extubated after completion of the excision of the tumor mass. Following the procedures the outide of the endotracheal tube was swabbed by the cotten tip applicators and the specimens examined cytologically. Two positive cytologic specimens were obtained, they were class III and laryngeal carcinoma in both. This study provides evidence that contamination of the outside of the endotracheal tube can occur when it is passed directly over a carcinoma of the larynx.

Key Words: Endotracheal tube cytology; Upper respiratory tract carcinoma