Equivocal cytology in lung cancer diagnosis: improvement of diagnostic accuracy using adjuvant multicolor FISH, DNA-image cytometry, and quantitative promoter hypermethylation analysis.

Background: Sometimes, cytological lung cancer diagnosis is challenging because equivocal diagnoses are common. To enhance diagnostic accuracy, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), DNA-image cytometry, and quantitative promoter hypermethylation analysis have been proposed as adjuncts.

Methods: Bronchial washings and/or brushings or transbronchial fine-needle aspiration biopsies were prospectively collected from patients who were clinically suspected of having lung carcinoma.