A PATTERN OF CARCINOMA OF LUNG AS SEEN IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted to assess clinicopathological charac- teristics of lung cancer in 142 patients, 116 males and 26 females, from various regions of Pun- jab presenting with clinical features consistent with the diagnosis of lung carcinoma. They were admitted to Gulab Devi Chest Hospital (GDCH), Lahore, Pakistan from January 2005 to January 2007. Our observations revealed that the most prevalent malignancy among these patients was non small cell lung carcinoma including squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarci- noma in males and females respectively. Most common affected age groups were between 41-60 years (n=82) and 51-70 years (n=15) in males and females respectively. Squamous cell carci- noma followed by small cell lung carcinoma were commonly associated with smoking in both genders. Immunohistochemistry was employed for the confirmation of diagnoses in some (n=35) cases. We observed that 4 of 10 (40%) large cell lung carcinomas were strongly positive with HDC. The remaining 06 (60%) large cell lung carcinomas though negative for HDC, were strongly positive with Cyfra 21-1. All small cell lung carcinomas, atypical and typical carcinoids were also strongly reactive to HDC immunostaining. Antimucin antibody was also strongly positive and negative in each 02 of the 04 (50%) poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas where all of them were strongly reactive to Cyfra 21-1. It is concluded that lung cancer is more common in males and is strongly associated with smoking. Hence, interventional measures for prevention and early but correct diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma is needed. The role of tumour markers can be very useful in finalizing cases which are difficult to be differentiated.