Lung cancer epidemiology based on bronchoscopic and imaging findings from newly diagnosed patients in Central Greece

Abstract

INTRODUCTION There is a current lack of epidemiological data regarding lung cancer in Greece. The aim of this study was to record and analyze pertinent data regarding demographic, clinical, radiological, bronchoscopic and histological findings in lung cancer cases over a ten-year period collected from a hospital in Central Greece, and to investigate potential specific features of lung cancer in Greek patients. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study. The data collected were obtained from newly diagnosed lung cancer patients with fiberoptic bronchoscopy during a ten-year period (2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015)(2016)(2017)(2018). From the database, we have extracted the demographic data, the tumor location based on the computed tomography (CT) scans, bronchoscopy report with associated images and the histopathology/cytology reports that yielded the diagnosis. RESULTS A total number of 637 patients were diagnosed with primary lung cancer during the decade 2009-2018 from the authors in a major tertiary hospital in Athens, Greece. Most of the patients were aged 50-69 years (57.6%) and the majority were men (77.1%) and active smokers (74.1%). The most common histological type was adenocarcinoma (31.7%). In the majority of cases, the patients presented initially at advanced stages. At the time of diagnosis, the most common finding was a lung mass or nodule in computed tomography and an endobronchial mass in fiberoptic bronchoscopy. The patients' lesions were detected most frequently in the upper lobes. CONCLUSIONS The results show a trend in ADLC histology, an increase in the proportion of women with lung cancer and highlight the significant percentage of patients diagnosed in advanced stages. This reflects the need for effective tobacco control strategies to reduce the incidence of lung cancer and a comprehensive national screening program for the purposes of early detection.