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. 2010 Jan;5(1):30-6.
doi: 10.4103/1817-1737.58957.

Lung cancer at a University Hospital in Saudi Arabia: A four-year prospective study of clinical, pathological, radiological, bronchoscopic, and biochemical parameters

Omer S Alamoudi  1
Affiliations

Lung cancer at a University Hospital in Saudi Arabia: A four-year prospective study of clinical, pathological, radiological, bronchoscopic, and biochemical parameters

Omer S Alamoudi. Ann Thorac Med. 2010 Jan.

Abstract

Objectives and background: Lung cancer accounts for 4% of all newly diagnosed cancers in Saudi Arabia. The pattern of presentation is unknown. The objectives of this study were to assess the clinical, radiological, pathological, biochemical and bronchoscopic abnormalities in lung cancer patients and to compare our findings with those reported in the literature.

Methods: A total of 114 patients with proven lung cancer were selected for the study. A questionnaire concerning patients' demographic data was obtained; the abnormalities and the cell types of lung cancer were recorded prospectively in each subject.

Results: A total of 114 patients with lung cancer were studied. Mean age ± SD was (59.8 ± 10.8) years, and (71.1%) were smokers and 95.1% of them were male, (90.1%) smoked >20 pack/yr (96.2%) for 20 years or more. Cough (76.3%) and clubbing (40.4%) were the most common symptom and physical abnormality respectively. The right lung (64.9%) was more commonly affected than the left (37.7%). Metastases were present in (49.1%) at presentation. The right and left upper bronchi (24% vs. 16%) were the mostly affected. Hypercalcemia was more common in squamous cell, while hyponatremia was more common in adenocarcinoma, and small cell. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common cell type (51.8%) and significantly associated with smoking (P ≤ 0.001)

Conclusion: Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common cell type, and significantly associated with smoking. The incidence of metastasis was high at presentation. The right lung and right upper bronchus were often affected. Hypercalcemia and hyponatremia were the most common biochemical abnormalities.

Keywords: Adenocarcinoma; Saudi Arabia; large cell carcinoma; lung cancer; small cell carcinoma; squamous cell carcinoma.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of lung cancer patients by histopathology and sex
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of lung cancer patients by histopathology and smoking
Figure 3
Figure 3
Distribution of lung cancer patients by histopatholgy and calcium (Ca) level
Figure 4
Figure 4
Distribution of lung cancer patients by histopatholgy and sodium (Na) level
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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