title: Lung cancer in individuals less than 50 years of age.
abstract: The aim of this study was to compare the epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics and survival rates of younger and older patients with lung cancer. We studied 1340 patients who were histopathologically diagnosed as having lung cancer from 1990 to 2005. Based on prior reports, we defined "younger" as individuals less than 50 years old. The patients were classified into two groups: <50 years (the younger group) and >/=50 years (the older group). Of the 1340 patients, 179 (13.4%) were in the younger group and 1161 were in the older group. In the younger group, exposure to occupational risk factors was a risk factor for lung cancer, while in the older group, smoking was a risk factor. At the time of diagnosis, chest pain was more common in the younger group, while in the older group, cough, dyspnea, and hilar enlargement on chest X-ray were more frequent. The incidence of adenocarcinoma and small-cell carcinoma was greater in the younger group, while squamous cell carcinoma was more common in the older group. Metastasis rates were significantly different between the two age groups: 52.0% of the younger group presented with stage IV disease compared with 43.5% of the older group. Although fewer younger than older patients were not able to receive or rejected anticancer therapy, the overall survival was similar in both groups. These data indicate that lung cancer had different etiopathogenetic characteristics in younger patients, which may have clinical implications. By planning preventive measures based on these characteristics, more efficient use of resources can be achieved.
authors: Department of Chest Diseases, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Medical Faculty, Eskisehir, Turkey. guntuluak@yahoo.com.|Sumer mahallesi Aksahin sokak Umut, Apt A, blok No.15/4, Eskisehir, Turkey. guntuluak@yahoo.com.
authors: Guntulu
authors: G
authors: Ak
authors: Department of Chest Diseases, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Medical Faculty, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors: Muzaffer
authors: M
authors: Metintas
authors: Department of Public Health, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Medical Faculty, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors: Selma
authors: S
authors: Metintas
authors: Department of Chest Diseases, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Medical Faculty, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors: Huseyin
authors: H
authors: Yildirim
authors: Department of Chest Diseases, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Medical Faculty, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors: Sinan
authors: S
authors: Erginel
authors: Department of Chest Diseases, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Medical Faculty, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors: Fusun
authors: F
authors: Alatas
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009790:Occupations; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
references: Chest. 1999 May;115(5):1232-6
references: 10334132
references: Cancer. 1991 Mar 1;67(5):1436-8
references: 1991310
references: Am J Ind Med. 1989;15(5):565-78
references: 2741962
references: Chest. 2000 Feb;117(2):354-7
references: 10669674
references: Cancer Detect Prev. 1994;18(5):349-55
references: 7812981
references: Am Rev Respir Dis. 1986 Sep;134(3):466-70
references: 3752703
references: Chest. 1992 Dec;102(6):1723-9
references: 1446479
references: J Clin Oncol. 1998 Feb;16(2):651-7
references: 9469354
references: Chest. 1993 Nov;104(5):1477-81
references: 8222810
references: Cancer. 1999 Apr 15;85(8):1730-3
references: 10223566
references: J Surg Oncol. 2001 Jul;77(3):208-12
references: 11455559
references: Respir Med. 1992 Nov;86(6):499-502
references: 1335158
references: Chest. 1997 Jun;111(6):1710-7
references: 9187198
references: Chest. 2001 Jul;120(1):32-6
references: 11451812
references: Chest. 1989 Dec;96(6):1298-301
references: 2555113
references: Chest. 1985 Apr;87(4):456-9
references: 2983952
references: Am J Public Health. 1987 Apr;77(4):425-31
references: 3826460
references: Respirology. 2001 Dec;6(4):293-6
references: 11844119
references: Lung Cancer. 2001 Aug-Sep;33(2-3):203-11
references: 11551415
references: J Clin Oncol. 1994 May;12(5):981-5
references: 8164051
references: Anticancer Res. 2006 Jul-Aug;26(4B):3175-81
references: 16886653
references: Lung Cancer. 2001 Jun;32(3):255-64
references: 11390007