Clinical features of adenosquamous lung carcinoma in 127 patients

There has been increased recognition of adenosquamous lung carcinoma since the 1982 modification of World Health Organization (WHO) histologic criteria. However, data on clinical features of this histologic subtype were nonexistent. Medical records of 127 patients with adenosquamous lung carcinoma were reviewed to determine the clinical features, namely, age, race, sex, smoking history, asbestos exposure, symptoms present at the time of diagnosis, stage, treatments, and survival. The age distribution was: less than 40 yr, 3%; 40 to 49, 17%; 50 to 59, 28%; 60 to 69, 32%; 70 to 79, 18%; greater than or equal to 80, 2%. Men constituted 72%, and 90% were smokers. Four smokers had documented asbestos exposure. The symptoms in order of decreasing frequency were cough, weight loss, expectoration, anorexia, chest pain, dyspnea, weakness, hemoptysis, pneumonia, fever, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and chills. Stage could be ascertained in 120 (95%) patients. Local stage constituted 10%, regional constituted 30%, and distant constituted 60%. Local stage had the best survival, with a projected 5-yr survival of 62%. Median survivals in regional and distant stages were 8 and 4 months, respectively. Symptoms of adenosquamous lung carcinoma were similar to other histologies. Most patients present in regional or distant stages. Local-stage patients had a good long-term survival after surgical excision of the tumor.