Lung cancer in Kelantan.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Lung carcinoma is a significant health concern globally.
• Understanding demographic and risk factor associations is crucial for targeted prevention and treatment strategies.
• Previous studies highlight smoking as a primary risk factor for lung cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the clinical characteristics and epidemiological factors of lung carcinoma patients at Hospital University Sains Malaysia (HUSM).
• To identify associations between histological types, patient demographics, and smoking behavior.
• To provide insights into lung cancer patterns within a specific Malaysian population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 119 lung carcinoma patients treated at HUSM between 1984 and 1989.
• Data collection included patient demographics (age, sex, ethnicity), smoking status, and histological type.
• Statistical analysis was performed to determine significant associations.

Main Results:

• The mean age of patients was 60.3 years, with most falling between 41-70 years.
• A high prevalence of smokers (75%) was observed, particularly among men (84%).
• Squamous cell carcinoma was most common in men, while adenocarcinoma predominated in women. Chinese ethnicity showed a higher predisposition. Smoking was significantly associated with squamous cell and large cell/undifferentiated carcinoma.

Conclusions:

• Smoking is a major risk factor for specific histological types of lung carcinoma, notably squamous cell and large cell/undifferentiated types.
• Demographic factors, including ethnicity and sex, play a role in lung carcinoma incidence and histological type distribution.
• This review underscores the importance of smoking cessation programs and targeted screening for high-risk populations.