Author studied morphological aspects of clubbing finger in 51 cases of various pulmonary diseases admitted to the Chest Surgery Dept. of Pusan National University Hospital. Of these 51 cases, there were 24 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis, 10 cases of empyema, 7 cases of lung cancer, 4 cases of lung abseess, 4 cases of bronchiectasis and 2 cases of cardiac diseases.
The results were as followings:
1. In all cases with pulmonary lesions, the "Base Angle" of the nail was above 60 degree, in contrast with the base angle of normal individuals which were almost less than 160 degree, and the clinically easily recognizable, advanced type of clubbing finger in which the base angle was more than 180 degree was 29.4% of the total cases, and they were found 20.8% in pulmonary tuberculosis, and 36.6% in nontuberculosis cases.
2. The base angle of the nail was proportional to the progression of the clubbing finger, and therefore, it is reasonable to express the degree of clubbing with the base angel. And the circumference ratio of the terminal phalanx to the distal phalanx was proportional to the increase in base angel, and the ratio of far advanced type was at least one or above one.
3. For the degree of clubbing, the index finger seemed rather significant than the thumb.
4. According to history, significant advanced type of clubbing of the finger were detected about 18.8% within 1 year, 26.9% within 5 years, and 55.5% were more than 6 years.
5. It seemed the degree of clubbing was proportional to the sedimentation rate of blood.
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