The effect of prednisolone on the efficacy of the diagnosis of pulmonary cancer and tuberculosis

: The report describes a test intended to increase the efficacy and precision of cytologic diagnosis of lung cancer as well as bacterioscopic diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. The test is run during examinations of sputum and pleural exudate. It uses prednisolone, per os, 30 mg daily, for 3 days, then sputum and pleural exudate are tested for cancer cells presence and/or mycobacteria of tuberculosis. A 100% diagnostic specificity of the test in diagnosing cancer and tuberculosis and unsophisticated procedures involved make the case for its application in all oncological, pulmonological and tuberculosis controlling institutions.