[Cancer of the lung: software construction for data filing and processing]

Within the framework of "Neoplastic growth control", a N.R.C. Project developed in Italy on a national scale, the authors report their initial experience in the use of a microcomputer to file and process a number of data regarding all the patients with lung cancer treated by medical or surgical therapy since 1978. The hardware consists of a TRS 80 microcomputer with a RAM memory of 48 Kbyte, while the software is designed to file and process the data of about 2000 patients. Each patient is identified by 122 parameters. 80 cases have been stored up to now. Allowing a more efficient data analysis, this highly versatile programme will facilitate the management of the hospitalized patients and the backward and prospective evaluation of the different cases. In fact, the accurate and prompt availability of all the necessary information is a major step towards the selection of the best treatment for each patient.