Metastatic Manifestations as Presenting Symptoms of Primary Cancer of the Lung

Abstract

Analysis is made of 2000 cases of primary cancer of the lung. In more than 10 per cent, the first symptoms were due to metastases, most commonly to bone and brain. The lack of symptoms of early cancer of the lung is emphasized, and the importance of searching for peripheral nodes either in the presence of known lung cancer or to establish the diagnosis is pointed out. The necessity for surveys to detect early lung cancer, when a high cure rate is possible, is stressed, and the need for exploratory thoracotomy in a suspicious lesion when other diagnostic measures fail is noted.