[Cytological diagnosis of lung cancer and precancer using the principal rules]

Analysis of clinical and morphological findings in 306 patients making use of a complex of modern methods at tissue, cellular, and subcellular levels enabled the authors to define the early precancer changes in the bronchial epithelium. The diagnostic value of precancer changes in the lungs and lung cancer was assessed by successive statistical analysis and mathematical estimations. Medical mathematical decisive rules have been developed and are proposed for practical use, which permit the diagnosis of precancer and cancer of the lungs with a high degree of reliability (87 and 89%, respectively).