Clinicopathological profile of bronchogenic carcinoma in a tertiary care hospital in eastern part of India

Background: Lung cancer is presently the most common malignant disease (12.34% of all cancers) and the leading cause of cancer deaths (17.8% of all cancer deaths) in the world in all age groups and in both sexes. It is the leading cause of cancer deaths in developed countries and is also rising at an alarming rate in developing countries. Objective: The present study was undertaken to explore the clinicopathological profile of bronchogenic carcinoma. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 consecutive patients with histopathologically proven bronchogenic carcinoma, hospitalized between 2009 and 2011 at a tertiary care Hospital, Eastern India, Kolkata, West Bengal, India, were analyzed. Result: Out of a total of 60 diagnosed cases, with an average age of 63 years, nearly 75.0% were males. Smoking was the risk factor in 71.67%. About 26.67% of female patients were smokers with a significant overlap in use of smoking objects. Four (6.67%) patients were <40 years of age at the time of diagnosis. Fiber optic bronchoscopy (15%) and fine-needle aspiration cytology (58.33%) were found to be the most efficient diagnostic procedures. Histologically, squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, small cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma were seen in 31.67%, 43.33%, 10% and 3.24% cases, respectively. Nearly 11.67% patients showed malignant cells only and marked as unclassified. Early stages (1 or 2) were found in 11.67% and late stages (3 or 4) in 88.33%. Metastases to nodes, liver, adrenals and bones were present in 55%, 13.33%, 8.33% and 16.67% respectively. Conclusion: This study shows that the most common type of lung cancer is adenocarcinoma. Patients with persistant pulmonary symptoms should be promptly evaluated for malignancy.