Original article
English
Mohamad H. Zew, Kamal H. Jauoda, Abdulaziz A. Shari, Samira Belkair
Department of Medicine, Al Jamhoria Hospital Benghazi, Libya
JMJ 2010,Vol.10, No.1:54-60
Abstract
Background: Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer of women all over the world. The libyan female population, which is characterized by very low tobacco consumption rates, offers a unique opportunity to study “gender-related” differences in epidemiological, clinical and pathological features of this common malignancy. Objectives: To analyze the epidemiological, clinical and pathological features of lung cancer in Libyan female patients and compare the results with data from other countries. Patients and Methods: All patients diagnosed to have primary pulmonary cancer in the period from January 2001 to December 2006 were included in the study. Data were obtained from Benghazi Cancer Registry, records of the oncology Department and Bronchoscopy Unit, Jamhoria Hospital Benghazi and from patients’ files. Results: During a 5 years period lung cancer was diagnosed in 427 patients; 41 females and 386 males. Females were significantly younger and smoked significantly less than males. Adenocarcinoma was the commonest histopathological type in females (39.0%), while squamous cell carcinoma was the commonest type in males (39.9%). Small cell carcinoma was remarkably rare in our female patients. For each histopathological subtype the percentage of smokers was significantly higher in males than females (p< 0.0001). Breathlessness, chest pain and metastasis to adrenals and lymph nodes were commoner in females while dry and productive cough, and brain metastasis were commoner in males. Both groups presented in advanced disease stages but relatively more females had stage I or II at presentation (25% versus 15.6%, P<0.001). Conclusion: Smoking remains the most important aetiological factor causing lung cancer in both sexes. Efforts should be directed to control smoking in males and keep the low smoking rates in females. Other aetiological factors seem to play an important role, especially in females, and should be investigated further. Keywords: Lung cancer, Female lung cancer, Small cell carcinoma, Non-small cell carcinoma. Link/DOI: http://www.jmj.org.ly/images/stories/spring2010/54.pdf