[Significance of some special methods of study for the determination of the extent of dissemination of lung cancer].

To reveal inoperable cases in 236 patients with pulmonary cancer the following special methods of study were employed: bronchoscopy--in 116 patients, pneumomediastinotomography--in 50, azygo-hemiazygography--in 127, mediastinography with the use of water-soluble contrast substances--in 6, prescalene biopsy--in 15 and mediastinoscopy--in 43. An analysis of the results obtained has shown that each of these specific methods of investigation has definite diagnostic limits, not being comprehensive for judging the status of the mediastinum, as a whole. Therefore, their complex utilization in a succession that would take into account the maximum information of each diagnostic procedure is being suggested.