Digital clubbing and lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relative frequency of clubbing in small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) versus non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).


METHODS
Examine patients with lung cancer for digital clubbing and relate the findings to the histopathologic subtype of lung cancer.


METHODS
Cancer center at a tertiary teaching hospital.


METHODS
One hundred and eleven consecutive patients with a pathological diagnosis of lung cancer examined by one physician (KSS).


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
Clubbing was present in 32 (29%) of the 111 patients with lung cancer. Clubbing was more common in women (40%) than in men (19%; chi2 test p = 0.011), and was more common in patients with NSCLC (35%) than those with SCLC (4%; chi2 test p = 0.0036).


CONCLUSIONS
In a prospective study, digital clubbing was less frequently observed in men than women and in patients with SCLC than NSCLC. These clinical observations may assist in the initial evaluation of patients for planning workup and therapy.
Sridhar
K S
KS
Department of Medicine, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL 33136, USA.
Lobo
C F
CF
Altman
R D
RD
D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000150:complications*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D010005:Osteoarthropathy, Secondary Hypertrophic / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies