[Epidemiology and delays in the management of 355 patients with lung cancer]

The epidemiology of patients with lung cancer in a Seine-Saint-Denis hospital are reported, as well as causes of diagnostic and therapeutic delays in their management.

Retrospective analysis of cases diagnosed from January 1, 1997 to December 31, 2003.

Of 355 cases, 15.8% were women; the average age was 62 +/- 11. Mean smoking history was 50 +/- 24 pack years. Women were more likely to be non-smokers than men (16% and 1% respectively, p < 0.01) and were more likely to present at a young age (under the age of 50: 26.8% and 13.7% respectively, p < 0.05). Among women, adenocarcinoma was more frequent (41% vs. 25%, p < 0.05), and often presented with stage IV disease (74%). Squamous cell carcinoma occurred more frequently with increasing age (18.7% vs. 32.2% before and after the age of 60, p < 0.01). The median pre hospital, diagnostic and treatment delays were respectively 30, 10 and 9 days, the global delay from first symptom to treatment was 62 days. Surgery increased therapeutic delay by 20 days.

Our results are complementary to those found in KBP-2000-CPHG study. Young women are diagnosed at a late stage. Influence of delays on prognosis is not proved and require others studies.