Retrospective Evaluation of Women with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

Objective: Lung cancer which is one of the most serious health issues, is the deadliest type of cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for 85% of lung cancers. Epidemiological and demographic features of non-small cell lung cancer vary between countries. This study aims to retrospectively examine demographic, epidemiological and clinical features of female patients with NSCLC. Materials and methods: 42 female patients, who were diagnosed with NSCLC following the laboratory and imaging tests and operational methods and underwent operation and staging between 2016-2018, have been retrospectively examined. Findings: The average age of 42 female patients with NSCLC is 56,8 (30-74). 7 of the patients (%16,7) smoke cigarettes and 4 patients (%9,5) lost more than 10 kg in the last six months. According to the analysis of tumor locations, the tumor lesions were left sided in 12 cases (%28,5), and right-sided in 30 cases (%71,5). 32 patients (%76,2) were diagnosed with preoperative NSCLC following transthoracic fine needle aspiration biopsy and 10 patients (%23,8) were diagnosed following broncoscopic biopsy. Adenocarcinoma, which is the most common tumor cell types, was found in 37 patients (%88,1). Squamus cell carcinoma which is the second most common type, was found in 4 patients (%9,5) and 1 patient (%2,4) had mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The median tumor size was 4,19 cm (1-13 cm), and average PET-CT SUVmax value was 11,02 (2,89-33). The mean SUVmax value in adenocarcinoma cases was 10,06 (2,89-21,36), and 21,03 (14,47-33) in squamus cell carcinoma. While 35 of the patients (%83,3) underwent resection and 7 patients (%16,6) underwent only mediastinoscopy. According to the pathology results 7 patients (%16,7) were grouped as Stage 1A, 3 patients (%7,1) Stage 1B, 3 patients (%7,1) Stage 2A, 2 patients (%4,8) Stage 2B, 21 patients (%50) Stage 3A and 1 patient (%2,4) Stage 3B. Results: In this study, we found that adenocarcinoma is more common in female patients, and according to the pathological examination, %57,1 of the patients were in Stage 3. Lung cancer awareness needs to be raised among women, who are more likely to be affected by it. They need to be made aware of the symptoms for early diagnosis and routine screenings should be provided. Keywords: Non-small cell lung cancer, histological type, women Special Issue of Health Sciences DOI: 10.7176/JSTR/6-03-12