[Lung cancer in the young--X-ray manifestations in 135 cases]

In 9,256 patients with primary lung cancer admitted to our hospital in the past 30 years (1958-1987), 161 patients (1.73%) were under 30 years. All were proved by pathology or cytology. In the recent 5 years (1983-1987), the incidence of lung cancer in the youth was 29.5% of the total young lung cancer patients, though the ratio of young to the total in different periods remained unchanged. Histologically, small cell lung carcinoma ranked first (45.6%). Thirty-six percent of the patients had a history of mild smoking. The radiographic features were analysed in 135/161 patients who were examined by X-ray before treatment in our hospital. Differential diagnosis and causes of misdiagnosis are briefly discussed. The key of improving the accuracy of diagnosis is to keep vigilance against lung cancer in the young patients.