[Integrated diagnosis of central pulmonary cancer]

The integrative diagnosis is based on a simultaneous analysis of the data obtained by various methods of examination. Nine direct and 14 indirect symptoms of central pulmonary carcinoma were distinguished. Three introscopic complexes, that helped a correct diagnosis, were used in examinations of 147 patients with this condition. The presence of direct symptoms and combinations of 3 or more indirect signs were regarded as a manifestation of cancer. Metastases to the lymph nodes of the root of the lung were detected in 57.1% of patients, metastases to the mediastinum in 32.7% of cases. The results of biopsy were positive in 93.9% of the patients. The suggested method extends the diagnostic potentialities of the routine methods of investigation and helps optimize the algorithm of examinations and detect the tumors that are difficult to recognize.