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Clinical Characteristics and Surgery of Primary Lung Cancer in Younger Patients

Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Toneyama National Hospital, Osaka, Japan

For reprint information contact: Yasunobu Funakoshi, MD Tel: 81 6 6853 2001 Fax: 81 6 6850 1750 Email: funakosy{at}toneyama.go.jp, Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Toneyama National Hospital, 5-5-1 Toneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka, 560-8552, Japan.

Controversy exists regarding the clinical characteristics, pathological findings, and prognosis of patients < 50 years of age with primary lung cancer. The medical records of 4,556 patients diagnosed with primary lung cancer between 1980 and 2004 were reviewed; of these, 305 were < 50 years old. Of 1,335 patients who were surgically treated, 122 were < 50 years old. Females were over-represented in the younger group. Younger patients had a significantly higher incidence of adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma, and a lower incidence of squamous cell carcinoma. The resectable rate in younger patients was significantly higher. Overall and among surgically treated patients, the survival rates of younger patients with stage 0-I disease were significantly better than those of older patients. Younger patients with early-stage primary lung cancer had a significantly better prognosis than older patients, although survival in the advanced stages was not significantly different.