A young man with severe impairment of respiratory function due to previous tuberculosis presented with recurrent massive haemoptysis causing hypotension, anaemia and respiratory failure. The successful management of the haemoptysis using percutaneous transarterial embolisation (PTE) of the right bronchial artery is documented here.
Between 1967 and 1976, 388 cases of lung cancer were seen at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, with histological confirmation in 72%. Most were aged from 50--80, with a male to female ratio of 2.8 : 1. The patients were predominantly of Chinese origin (82%) and from the lower socioeconomic strata. A history of smoking was elicited in 78%. The chief clinical and radiological features and the diagnostic methods are presented. The incidence of the histological types was squamous carcinoma 34%, adenocarcinoma 25%, large cell carcinoma 12%, small (oat) cell carcinoma 12%, "unidifferentiated/anaplastic" 15%, and others 2%. Malays appeared to have a higher percentage of adenocarcinoma. A comparison between the histologically confirmed group and the rest showed no significant difference in features. Problems pertaining to the management of Malaysian patients are discussed.