[Role of nonspecific accompanying pulmonary pathology in altering the external respiratory function in lung cancer]

In 110 lung cancer patients the authors have determined the rate of separate distension of the lung and chest (DL--C), and in 60 of them radiopneumography with Xe133 was employed. All patients were subdivided into 3 groups: I--those suffering chronic concomitant lung affections, II--those with acute pulmonary diseases in the anamnesis, III--those showing no signs of concomitant pathology. It was found that the previous diseases (pneumonia, acute bronchitis) render no significant effect on the external respiration function (as evidenced by radiopneumographic findings). Whereas concomitant pathology (chronic bronchitis, chronic pneumonia, etc.) would aggravate the function considerably, that is especially pronounced in central tumor localization. In patients of the group I and II DL--C was found to be markely reduced, that may be due to asymptomatic pleurofibrosis in the group II. To estimate the possibilities of surgical treatment for lung cancer, a detailed complex diagnosis of concomitant nonspecific pulmonary pathology seems to be absolutely necessary.