CLINICOPATHOLOGIC STUDIES OF PRIMARY LUNG CANCER

Three hundred and four patients who underwent surgery for primary lung cancer were investigated clinicopathologically.1) The ratio of females to males was 6 to 4.2) The average age was 62.7 years (15 to 80 years).3) Approximately 79% of the patients were initially detected by mass screening.4) There was a slight predominance of primary lesions in the right lung and the superior lobe.5) Adenocarcinoma accounted for 60% of the histological types.6) Pulmonary lobectomies were carried out in approximately 82% of the patients and combined excisions were performed in 11%.7) Regarding the postoperative disease stage, the majority of patients were in stage I, while one third were in stageIIIA, or beyond, of progressive lung cancer.8) The overall 5 -year survival rate was 53% ; 73% for stage I, 39% for stage II, 25% for stage IIIA, 0 % for stageIII B and 30% for stageIV : also, interms of histological types, 48% for adenocarcinoma, 59% for squamous cell carcinoma, 36% for large cell carcinoma and 100% for small cell carcinoma.