Non-Tuberculous Chest Disease Found in a Mass X-Ray Survey in Vancouver,B.C

In 1964, 219,085 persons were examined during a tuberculosis survey in Vancouver, B.C. One hundred and fifteen new cases of tuberculosis and 929 cases of significant non-tuberculous lung disease were found. In a four-month follow-up of the non-tuberculous cases it was found that of the 742 patients who had named a physician when examined 26.6% had not made contact with him. Of those who did contact the physician, the follow-up was considered “poor” in only 30 patients (2.1%). Seventeen patients had died in the four-month interval and 81 who could not be located after the initial survey were considered “lost”. Rates were determined for 37 diagnoses per 1000 patients screened. The most common diagnosis was localized pulmonary fibrosis (1.69/1000). Carcinoma was found in 0.30/1000 and solitary lung density in 0.17/1000 population screened.