[Bronchopulmonary carcinoma. An epidemiological and clinical study of 157 cases]

During the last 5 years (1982-1986), a diagnosis of primary bronchopulmonary cancer was made in 157 patients. The mean rate of incidence for males in our province was 25.7 per 100,000 and per year. Among patients with neoplasia, the rate of smokers approached 100%. There was a direct relation between younger age at presentation and higher number of cigarettes per day. In ex-smokers the clinical development of the disease was later than in current smokers. The results regarding the following variables are also reported: professional background, past history, initial symptoms, time to diagnosis (for each histologic type) and radiological findings.