Non-small cell lung cancer in very young and very old patients.
OBJECTIVE
A cancer registry was analyzed to determine if the clinicopathologic characteristics, treatment modalities, and prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients < 40 years of age at diagnosis differed from patients > 80 years of age at diagnosis.


METHODS
Retrospective review of patients with NSCLC diagnosed between 1987 and 1996.


METHODS
General teaching hospital in Taiwan.


METHODS
There were 6,048 cases of NSCLC diagnosed during this period. Among them, 127 patients were < 40 years old and 184 patients were > 80 years old. These patients were selected for our study.


METHODS
Data regarding demographics, presentation symptoms, histology, tumor staging, treatment modality, and survival were obtained from all patients. Pearson's chi(2) test and the Kaplan-Meier method with a log-rank test were used for statistical analysis.


RESULTS
We found significantly more female patients (p < 0.001) and adenocarcinoma (p < 0.001) in the younger group, when compared with the older patients. Cough was the most frequent presenting symptom in both age groups, followed by dyspnea, chest pain, and hemoptysis. There was no statistical difference in the severity of the disease in terms of staging between the two age groups. Young patients received surgical intervention more frequently than the aged (p = 0.025). The older patients received only supportive care more frequently (p = 0.011) than the younger patients. Survival was better in young patients, when compared with other patients or aged patients (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The female sex and adenocarcinoma were predominant in young NSCLC patients, when compared with the older patients. Young NSCLC patients tended to receive more aggressive treatment and had better survival.
Kuo
C W
CW
Chest Department, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, and School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Chen
Y M
YM
Chao
J Y
JY
Tsai
C M
CM
Perng
R P
RP
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013624:Taiwan; D016896:Treatment Outcome