title: Outcome and treatment strategy in female lung cancer: a single institution experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the survival rate of female lung cancer treated at the Institute of Oncology of the Vilnius University, Lithuania during the period between 1996-2005.
  
  
  METHODS
  During the period between 1996-2005, 471 women diagnosed with lung cancer were treated at the Department of Thoracic Surgery and Oncology of the Institute of Oncology, Vilnius University. Data on morphology, stage and treatment was collected from the medical records. All lung cancer cases by histology were classified in two groups: non-small cell lung cancer (includes squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and other less common types) and small cell lung cancer. The vital status of the study group was assessed as of December 31, 2007, by passive follow-up, using data from the population registry. It was found that 411 (87.3%) of the patients had died. Survival was estimated according to the Kaplan-Meier method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median survival of female lung cancer diagnosed during 1996-2005 in Lithuania show to be 8.7 months (8.4 (95% CI 7.2-10.8) months with non-small cell lung cancer and 9.3 (95% CI 6.3-13.0) months with small-cell lung cancer). Survival was more than 20 months in resectable non-small cell lung cancer (stages I, II, IIIA). Non-small cell lung cancer survival in advanced stages was less than 7 months. Small-cell lung cancer patients median survival at limited and extended stages of the disease were 9.5 (95% CI 2.9-18.4) compared to 9.2 (95% CI 6.2-13.7) months. Non-small cell lung cancer patients most frequently were treated by surgery (27.0%), surgery and chemotherapy or radiotherapy (19.6%). Small cell lung cancer patient treatment included chemo and radiotherapy (27.0%), chemotherapy (19.0%), radiotherapy (17.5%), surgery (27.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The single center study of female lung cancer diagnosed during 1996-2005 in Lithuania show a significantly better chance of survival in resectable non-small cell lung cancer. Advanced stages of the disease at the time of diagnosis and choice of treatment options of female lung cancer in the country still remains an issue.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oncology, Vilnius University, Lithuania. saulius.cicenas@vuoi.lt
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cicėnas
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kurtinaitis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smailytė
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult