The potentialities and prospects for surgical methods of diagnosis of cancer of the lung.

Surgical methods of diagnosis make it possible to determine in patients with lung cancer the actual local extension of tumour and its metastatic foci. The diagnostic thoracotomy plays an important role in the complex diagnosis of lung cancer. Diagnostic thoracotomy has been performed in 109 out of 1215 patients with lung cancer and other lung lesions suspicious for cancer. Primary lung cancer, mostly at early stage, was detected in 50 out of 109 patients. Among 308 patients who had been subjected to Daniels operation, metastases were revealed in 130 cases (42.2%); prescalene lymph nodes were found inpalpable in 12.4% and palpable in 64.4% of cases. Mediastinoscopy carried out in 262 patients revealed metastases in 36.2% of cases. Parasternal mediastinotomy allowed definition of the degree of tumor extension in 49.5% of cases. Application of laparoscopy and laparotomy revealed metastases in the organs of the abdominal cavity and retroperitoneal space in 13.5% of patients. Results of studies show a definite relationship between the frequency of metastases development in the lymph nodes and distant organs and tumor site as well as clinico-anatomical forms and morphological structure of tumor. Application of surgical diagnostic methods should be done according to strict indications.