Abstract

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the commonest cancer and among the biggest cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Tobacco Smoking remains the biggest risk factor. As most of the patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease, treatment largely remains palliative and prognosis grim.

AIMS: This study was designed to observe the clinic-radiological and pathological presentations of lung cancer, diagnostic yields of various procedures and acceptance of treatment.

RESULTS: A total of 393 patients were included in the study. Majority of them (n= 324; 82.44%) were male and were smokers (n=299; 76%). A large number of patients (n=142, 36.1%) were receiving anti-tubercular therapy. 

The most common radiological finding was a mass lesion (n=166), followed by pleural effusion (n=135). Adenocarcinoma was found to be commonest type (n=115, 29.26%), followed by squamous cell ca (n=86, 21.88%) and small cell ca (n=50; 12.8%). Among NSCLC, 218 (75.4%) patients were presented in stage IV (distant metastasis). Of 28 patients of stage I, II & IIIA NSCLC or Limited Disease SCLC, 12 (42.8%) patients came for follow-up. Only 37 (11.9%) of 311 patients in stage IIIB, IV NSCLC or extensive SCLC came for follow-up.

CONCLUSION: Most patients were smoker males of 50-70 years of age, presented in poor general condition and with disseminated disease as many of them were misdiagnosed outside as a case of tuberculosis or other benign diseases. Only a few could receive treatment with curative intent and one year survival was dismally low.