Background: Esophageal cancer is one of the deadliest and eighth most common cancer worldwide. It is the sixth most common cause of cancer related deaths with developing nations making up more than 80% of total cases and deaths. The purpose of this study was to assess the histopathological pattern of esophageal cancer in our region.Methods: In our centre, we analyzed 101 cases of endoscopic esophageal biopsy proven cases of esophageal cancer from January 2014 to June 2016. In most of these cases, dysphagia was the commonest indication of esophageal endoscopy.Results: 65 cases (64.4%) were males and 36 cases (35.6%) were females. Most of the patients were in the age group of 41-60 years. The histopathological analysis revealed squamous cell carcinoma as the most common esophageal cancer (n=61, 60.4%) followed by adenocarcinoma (n=38, 37.6%) and 02 cases of undifferentiated carcinoma (2%).Conclusions: Esophageal cancer is one of the commonest digestive tract malignancy in India. The males are affected more than the females with male to female ratio of 1.8:1. The maximum number of cases being seen in fifth and sixth decade of life. The squamous cell carcinoma is the most common esophageal cancer seen, with middle esophagus being the commonest site. However, the number of cases of adenocarcinoma are on rise.

INTRODUCTIONLung carcinoma is a complex neoplasm. Lung cancer is responsible for more deaths each year than colon cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer combined, 12.6% of all new cancers and 17.8% of cancer deaths in India. Approximately, 63000 new lung cancer cases are reported each year in India. 1Lung cancer accounts for 22% and 14.6% of cancer deaths in developed and developing countries respectively. This dismal mortality makes early diagnosis and treatment essential for improvement in morbidity and mortality.2,3 The flexible bronchoscope has become the main diagnostic tool in the evaluation of patients of lung cancer, with more than 70% of lung carcinoma being approachable via bronchoscopy. Transbronchial lung biopsy via fibreoptic bronchoscope is an extremely useful technique by which bronchial as well as lung biopsies can be taken. 4 With the use of the fibreoptic bronchoscope, advanced radiological guidance and increasing expertise the diagnostic yield of bronchoscopy has increased considerably.Cytology is being increasingly used for the evaluation of pulmonary malignancies. Various sampling techniques are available to procure sample for cytological evaluation in lung malignancies including exfoliative cytology samples such as induced sputum, abrasive cytology samples (bronchial brushing, bronchial washing, bronchoalveolar lavage) and fine needle aspiration cytology, which can be endobronchialultrasound guided, transesophageal, CT guided, percutaneous or transthoracic. 5,6 However, due to high morbidity associated with and non-availability of open ABSTRACT Background: The purpose of our study was to assess the pattern of transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) proven lung malignancies in our region. TBLB is an effective and low cost technique that can be easily employed to make the diagnosis of lung malignancies. Methods: In our centre, we analysed 120 cases of biopsy proven lung malignancy that underwent TBLB from January 2014 to May 2016. In all of these 120 cases, the commonest indication of TBLB was radiological opacity found on chest X-ray and/or CT scan. Results: 106 cases (88.3%) were males and 14 cases (11.7%) were females. Most of patients were more than 50 years of age. The histopathological analysis revealed squamous cell carcinoma as the most common lung malignancy (n = 88, 77.3%) followed by small cell carcinoma (n = 20, 16.7%), adenocarcinoma (n = 11, 9.2%) and 01 case of carcinoid tumour (0.8%). Commonest lung malignancy among females was adenocarcinoma (n = 8, 57.1%) and among males squamous cell carcinoma (n = 85, 80%). Conclusions: TBLB thus is an important tool in making the diagnosis and histopathological classification of lung malignancies.