Sputum cytology and bronchoscopyexaminations could help detecting early central airway lung cancer, researchers of the University of Hong Kong said here Tuesday.

The university's Faculty of Medicine conducted the study by screening about 400 lung cancer high-risk cases starting from 2002. The cases involved were smokers aged 40 or above, who smoked more than 20 packs of cigarettes a year. Sputum examinations followed by bronchoscopies were done among the cases.

The result showed that none of the central airway cancer cases was missed by sputum cytology. More than 46 percent of people diagnosed with lung cancer were in early stages.

The faculty's Honorary Clinical Assistant Professor Lam Bing said Tuesday at a press conference that prognosis for lung cancer was poor because most patients have advanced stage cancer when diagnosed and treatments for such stage are usually not effective.

Lam said, without screening, about 20 percent of lung cancers were diagnosed in early stages. This study suggested that sputum cytology and bronchoscopy are capable for doing early diagnoses.

Lung cancer high-risk group were advised to discuss with doctors to see if there is a need for a lung cancer screening, said Lam.

(Xinhua News Agency February 25, 2009)