The value of roentgenologic screening in lung cancer

A series of 446 patients with lung cancer were followed for 5 yr or until death to find out whether the mode of detection of the cancer affected their prognosis. The patients were divided into 2 groups. Group A: patients whose cancer was diagnosed in mass radiography, or some other health examination, or in an examination for another disease. Group B: patients who had consulted a doctor on account of their symptoms. Of the patients in Group A, 50% were alive 1 yr after diagnosis and 5% after 5 yr. The corresponding figures in Group B were 24% and 4%. In 127 patients, an abnormal shadow could already be seen in roentgenograms taken 6 months or more before diagnosis. These patients survived longer than the others, 9% being alive 5 yr after diagnosis. The results do not suggest that roentgenologic screening improves the prognosis for lung cancer.