[Detection and dispensary care of groups of persons at increased risk of bronchogenic cancer disease in Czechoslovakia].

Epidemiological and clinical studies organized by the Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases Research Institute, Prague, revealed that the main high-risk factors associated with the incidence of lung cancer in Czechoslovakia are as follows: are and sex, heavy cigarette smoking, persistent cough, expectoration and other symptoms of chronic respiratory disease, and lung lesions of tuberculosis or probably tuberculosis origin. The methods used in Czechoslovakia for lung cancer detection include photofluorography, which has been combined in some investigations with a standard questionnaire eliciting smoking habits and symptoms of respiratory disease. Cytological sputum investigation in suspicion to lung cancer was found to be a useful contribution to the diagnosis. The systematic dispensary control of persons with bronchogenic carcinoma or at high risk for this disease is provided by polyclinic Departments for Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases of the District Institutes of National Health in collaboration with general physicians, oncological and other specialized departments. Further studies on methods for detection and dispensary control of lung cancer high-risk groups represent an important research task.