[Chemical elements in the blood, bronchial lavage fluid and lung tissue of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and lung cancer].

The examined groups included 58 patients with cancer, 61 subjects with pulmonary tuberculosis and 50 healthy persons as controls. The content of trace elements in blood, bronchial lavage fluid from the most affected portions of the lungs, and in pathologic and healthy lung tissues was determined by a C-115 atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The examination findings demonstrated that the content of blood serum ferric zinc and magnesium, and erythrocyte zinc, manganese, potassium and calcium was higher in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis than in those with lung cancer. At the same time the content of magnesium and calcium in bronchial lavage fluid was higher in persons with a malignant process than in those with pulmonary tuberculosis. As far as differential diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and lung cancer is concerned, it is advisable to measure the levels of erythrocyte trace elements since the latter most precisely reflects their content in the lung pathologic tissue.