[Importance of new diagnostic techniques in oncology (author's transl)]

The A. reviews the most recent diagnostic techniques in oncology, discussing their advantages and disadvantages. He weighs the importance of the determination of the clinical stage in decision as to therapy and as to application of the TNM system, which includes the use of symbols capable of defining the anatomical extension of a neoplasia. He reports on the Arbor classification of stages of malignant lymphomas, expressing hopes for the elaboration of a clearer and more complete classification for the purposes of diagnosis and prognosis of neoplastic diseases.