The use of the erythrocyte stearic:oleic acid ratio in the diagnosis and prognosis of bronchogenic carcinoma has been assessed. Although there was a significant difference (P<0·02) in the erythrocyte stearic:oleic acid ratio between bronchogenic carcinoma patients and healthy adults, the large overlap observed in the two groups rendered the test unsuitable for the diagnosis of malignancy. Furthermore, there was no consistent rise in this ratio after surgical resection, indicating the test to be of little prognostic use. A new explanation for the lower stearic:oleic acid ratios in certain patients has been postulated.
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