Diagnóstico de lesiones tumorales pulmonares en exámenes sistemáticos de la población

Abstract

In the period 1962-1965 the National Tuberculosis Control Center in Santa Fe, Argentina, carried out mass miniature X-ray examinations of 140,051 persons over the age of 14. Out of 135,645 persons who attended for a chest examination, 23 thoracic tumors were diagnosed (1.7 per 10,000) and out of 4,406 persons who attended outpatien departments because of respiratory symptoms 42 such tumors were identified (95.3 per 10,000). The highest prevalence rate was found in symptomatic males over the age of 40 and the lowest in females in the age group 15 to 39

Of the 65 tumors detected, 49 were classified as primary malignant tumors: 46 in males and 3 in females. In the group of males over 40 years of age prevalence was 5.0 per 10,000 in those that attended for chest examinations, as opposed to 321 per 10,000 in cases presenting symptoms

A comparison of the survival rate in the two groups of patients with primary malignant tumors showed that survival is much more likely in those who attend for chest examination than in syptomatic cases. However, the difference was more apparent than real, since clinical histories of the first group showed that in most cases they had had respiratory symptoms to which they attached no importance

If one takes into account the cost of each tumor discovered, mass miniature X-ray examination would not appear to be an efficient public health method for the early ... (AU)