Clinical features of bronchogenic large cell carcinoma confirmed by surgical resection

To define the final outcome of large cell carcinomas (LCC) after surgical treatment, the histopathology, clinical features and follow-up results of 28 cases were reviewed.

Twenty eight patients, with LCC that underwent a surgical resection between 1986 and 2001, at the Severance Hospital, were retrospectively reviewed. We analyzed clinical data, radiological findings, pathologic findings, treatment modalities, and survival.

The prevalence of LCC was 2.9% (29 cases) among the surgically resected primary lung cancer cases (1003 cases) during the 15 year period of the study. The mean age of the patients was 59 years old, with 25 male cases. There were 23 smokers, smoking an average of 33 pack years. A cough was the most frequent symptom. There were 15 cases located in the peripheral part of the lung and 26 consisted of a lobulated mass. From a chest CT scan, 26 cases had necrotic portions, which appeared to be low density. The postoperative stages were IA, IB, IIB, IIIA and IV in 1 (3.6%), 11 (39.3%) 8 (28.5%), 7 (25%), 1 case (3.6%), respectively. The concordance rate of the pre- and postoperative stage was 43%. The median survival time and 5 year-survival rate were 54.5 months and 45%, respectively.

Our results suggested that a LCC in the lung was predominant in males, and equally located at the center and periphery of the lung in the surgically resected cases. To define the treatment outcome and risk factors of a LCC of the lung, further multicenter studies are needed.