Objectives: Lung neoplasms are one of the most common causes of mortality in Brazil. The objective of this survey is to evaluate the diagnosis of these neoplasms using fiberoptics bronchoscopy. Methods: 89 patients were analyzed retrospectively in a period of five years. They were divided into two groups: Group 1 (n = 53) - the presence of visible lesion on endoscopy, Group 2 (n = 36) - the absence of visible lesion on endoscopy. Epidemiological elements, endoscopic discoveries, cytopathologic and anatomopathologic examination were performed in the review, as well the examination that provided the final diagnosis. Results: The findings of indirect endoscopies of neoplasms corresponded to 59.5% and the presence of tumor inside bronchi was 48.8%. The most frequent histologic type was the epidermoid carcinoma (59.5%), followed by adenocarcinoma (15.7%), small-cell carcinoma (10.1%), and others (14.7%). In endoscopically visible or not visible tumors, the anatomopathologic study of bronchial biopsy and/preor the cytopathologic examination of the bronchial washing and brushing showed a sensitivity of 83.1% in the diagnosis of lung neoplasms. When the lesion was visible on endoscopy, the sensitivity was 96.2%: positive biopsy was 94.2%, and cytology was 43.75%. When the lesion in the bronchi is not observed, its addition was significantly small (63.8%), namely: biopsy registered 72.7% and cytopathology 38.4%. Not significant complications resulting from the endoscopic examination occurred in 11.2% of patients and there were no serious complications. Conclusion: The fiberoptics bronchoscopy was an excellent method to investigate patients with suspicion of lung neoplasms, with 83.1% of sensitivity. This sensitivity was higher in visible lesions and in non-visible lesions when endobronchial biopsy was used.

Keywords: Lung neoplasms. Bronchoscopy. Bronchogenic carcinoma. Diagnostic techniques and procedures.

The authors report a rare case of benign lung tumor, the INTRABRONCHIAL LEIOMYOMA, of a 33-year-old male patient. Diagnosis was performed by bronchoscopy with tumor biopsy, the tumor consisted largely of smooth muscle fibers. The option for treatment, after seven years of tumor evolution, was pneumonectomy.

Keywords: Leiomyoma; Bronchi, Lung neoplasm.