Tuberc Respir Dis.  2006 Mar;60(3):321-329.

Clinical Charicteristics of Primary Lung Cancer Patients in a Tertiary Hospital

• Ryu JS
• Lee HJ
• Leem JH
• Kim L
• Lee KH
• Cho JH
• Yoon YH
• Kwak SM
• Lee HL
• Kim KH
• Loh JK
• Jung SK

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of lung cancer patients in Korea, where there is a higher number of smokers than in Western countries.
METHODS
A retrospective study was performed on 1655 lung cancer patients, who were diagnosed at a university hospital between September 1996 and August 2005. Age, gender, cell types and clinical stage were analysed. Of 941 patients, who responded to a questionnaire at the time of diagnosis, the smoking habits, occupational history, family history of lung cancer in the first-degree relatives, coexisting diseases (diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease), body weight loss, ECOG performance status and presenting symptoms, were examined prospectively. In addition, coexisting diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and active pulmonary tuberculosis were evaluated.
RESULTS
Of the 1655 patients, the male to females ratio was 3.6. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common cancer whereas adenocarcinoma was more common in lifetime nonsmokers or women. 19.9% of the patients were non smokers and 80.1% ever smokers. Since 2000, there was an increase in the incidence of adenocarcinoma with a corresponding decrease in the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma. 6.2% of patients were asymptomatic. A coincident diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, active pulmonary tuberculosis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was made in: 44.1%, 22.2%, 10.7%, 3.9%, and 1.6% of patients, respectively. A positive family history of lung cancer in the first-degree relatives was identified in 4.4% of patients. An occupational history relevant to lung cancer was identified in 12.2% of patients.
CONCLUSION
There is a high proportion of cigarette smokers in Korean lung cancer patients. The most common cell type was squamous cell carcinoma. However, a more detailed, prospective study of the clinical characteristics will be needed to better characterize lung cancer in Korea.

Keyword

Lung cancer; Clinical characteristics; Symptom; Smoking

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma
Body Weight
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Cardiovascular Diseases
Diabetes Mellitus
Diagnosis
Female
Humans
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Incidence
Korea
Lung Neoplasms*
Lung*
Male
Prospective Studies
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
Surveys and Questionnaires
Retrospective Studies
Smoke
Smoking
Tertiary Care Centers*
Tobacco Products
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary
Smoke

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