[Infection as a main or additional cause of death in patients treated for small cell lung cancer]

The aim of this study was to analyse the frequency of infection as a cause of death in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients. Our material consisted of 845 unselected SCLC patients, 246 women and 599 men, aged 29-78 years, treated between 1980-1994 in the Institute of Tuberculosis in Warsaw. 479 patients had limited and 366 extensive disease. 530 were in good (0-2) and 315 in bad (3-4) performance status. 784 patients died. Autopsy was done in 211 patients. Infection was regarded as a main cause of death in 39 patients (4.6%) and as a coexistent cause in 77 (9.1%). At the time of death from and/or with infection in 16 patients complete remission and in 27 partial remission of cancer was confirmed. The risk of death from and/or with infection was not related to the age and sex or to the performance status of patients and to extension of cancer. The risk of death from and/or with infection in the first 3 months of treatment was however greater for patients in bad performance status and with extensive disease and later (after 3rd months) for patients in good performance status and with limited disease.