title: [Lung cancer histological types and diagnostic methods in a tertiary care facility].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the histological frequencies, diagnostic methods, gender and age of lung cancer patients in a third level care hospital in western Mexico.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective and descriptive study (2002 to 2005) was undertaken. From all reviewed cases, 242 patients had a diagnosis compatible with lung cancer. We analyzed the histological type, gender, age group, and diagnostic method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The histological type frequencies of lung cancer were as follows: 63.6% adenocarcinoma, 19.0% squamous cell carcinoma, 15.2% small cell carcinoma, and 2.2% large-cell carcinoma. Among these patients, a male-female ratio of 2:1 with a mean age of 63 years was found. Regarding the diagnostic methods followed, the most common included: transthoracic needle aspiration, bronchial biopsy, and bronchial washing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adenocarcinoma was the most frequent histological type in the sample studied, an association between female gender and risk of developing adenocarcinoma was detected.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Moleculary Genómica, Instituto de Enfermedades Crónico-Degenerativas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jal., México. carmenhpv@yahoo.de
authors.forename: Carmen Magdalena
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Gurrola-Díaz
authors.forename: Ana Elizabeth
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: González-Santiago
authors.forename: Rogelio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Troyo-Sanromán
authors.forename: Luz Audina
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Mendoza-Topete
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006268:Health Facilities; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies