Histologic Types, Staging, Resectability, and Smoking among Thai Patients with Lung Cancer
PRATHEEP RIANTA WAN, M.D., M.Sc., M.R.CP.(UK)*, PONGLADA SUBHANNACHART, M.D.**, SUTARAT TUNGSAGUNWATTANA, M.D.**, CHAIWUD YODT ASURODOM, M.D.***
Affiliation : * Division of Medicine, ** Division of Radiology, *** Division of Surgery, Central Chest Hospital, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand.
Aim : To examine the prevalence of cigarette smoking, histological types, staging at
presentation and resectability among Thai patients with lung cancer.
Setting : A 500-bed referral cardiothoracic centre.
Method : Prospective study with pre-defined outcome data, from January to December 1996.
Results : A total of 349 patients were histologically proved to have lung cancer. The
mean age was 60 years (SD 12.5). There were 264 males and 85 females. 269 patients (77o/c) were
smokers. Percentage of histopathologic types were :. 39 per cent adenocarcinoma, 30 per cent
squamous cell carcinoma, 20 per cent undifferentiated cell carcinoma, and II per cent small cell
carcinoma. The association with smoking is stronger in squamous cell carcinoma and small cell
carcinoma and weaker in adenocarcinoma. Most patients (82%) were in advanced stages, stage
3B and 4. 18 per cent of the patients were in stages eligible for surgery, i.e. stage I, 2 and 3A.
However, only 9.7 per cent of the patients were operable and 9.1 per cent were resectable.
Conclusions : On reaching the diagnosis, most patients with lung cancer were in advanced
stages of the disease, rendering a low resectability. The results emphasise the need for early
diagnostic intervention in patients presenting with lung mass. Furthermore, preventive measures
including a campaign against cigarette smoking, research into other possible aetiological factors
should be more encouraged.
Keywords : Lung' Cancer, Thai Patient, Histology, Staging, Resectability, Smoking
