[Analysis of the activities of pathology departments in Obninsk during the past 20 years (1966-1985)].

This review of data from pathology departments in the town of Obninsk has shown that over the last 20 years the most frequent causes of death, among males and females alike, were cardiovascular diseases (44%), with malignant neoplasms ranking second (30%) and causing almost twice as many deaths among males as among females. From 63% to 85% of deaths due to malignancy were from epithelial tumors, particularly of the stomach and lungs. A steady increase in the volume of autopsy material and especially of material from intravital morphologic examinations was apparent, with a tendency to a rise in the proportion of biopsy specimens relative to operative specimens, although the latter still predominate.