title: Roentogenographic chest screening in the detection and survival of patients with lung cancer. Cooperative Study Group for Early Detection of Lung Cancer in the German Democratic Republic.
abstract: In the German Democratic Republic (GDR), annual mass roentgenographic screening of the chest was introduced twenty years ago. To ascertain its value in the detection of lung cancer, data were collected about treatment results at the country's main chest clinics. The study cover 13,283 operations and 10,838 resections, accounting for nearly 90% of all patients with lung cancer treated surgically in the GDR from 1949-1974. From 1965 to 1968, the five-year survival was more favorable in patients who were screened than in those who were diagnosed after clinical symptoms had appeared (36% for the former, 29% for the latter). For improvement of overall results, we recommend differentiated regular chest roentgenographic screening of men 40 to 70 years of age, individualized on  the basis of tobacco usage, and full exploitation of all diagnostic and surgical tools now available.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005859:Germany, East; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008400:Mass Chest X-Ray; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking