The value of a wide range of tests in the assessment of lung function in carcinoma of the bronchus.

Tests of forced ventilation, lung volume, transfer factor, flow-volume and arterial blood gas measurements were made on 209 patients before thoracotomy for carcinoma of the bronchus. The patients whom the surgeons subsequently considered to be unsuitable for operation had significantly poorer results in tests of forced ventilation than those who were selected for operation. There was little or no significant difference between these groups in respect of the RV, TLC, transfer factor and arterial blood gas measurements. There was no marked difference in the results of any of the measurements between those who developed complications and those who were complication free. It was therefore concluded that clinical assessment together with forced ventilation tests could not be bettered by adding further lung function tests, when these were interpreted as simple 'normal or abnormal'. However, more complex analysis of test findings, such as discriminant analysis, may be of more value.