Noninvasive diagnostic methods in primary lung cancer Part one: sputum cytology and chest radiography

Primary lung cancer is a world wide public health problem which generates immense costs to the health system and where its cure is only achieve by an early diagnosis associated to an opportune surgical treatment. For this purpose several non invasive diagnostic methods are currently available, among them the sputum cytology, chest radiography, computed tomography scanner and the positron emission tomography. In the present article, constituted by two parts, the usefulness of these diagnostic methods as screening, diagnosis, staging and follow up tools will be discuss on the basis of the current available literature for this type of neoplasm