title: Changes in clinical presentation and staging of lung cancer over two decades.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Important clinical and epidemiological changes have been observed in lung cancer (LC) in our healthcare area compared to the previous decade. In the last 10 years, specific LC care circuits have been implemented and the active search for cases has been stepped up. The aim of this study was to analyze the progress of these changes over the last 20 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study comparing clinical and epidemiological changes between 2 historical cohorts of LC patients (1992-1994 [group 1, 164 patients] and 2004-2006 [group 2, 250 patients]) and a current group from the period 2011-2012 (group 3, 209 patients)
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and nine (209) LC patients were included in group 3 (2011-2012 period). After comparing groups 3 and 2, a non-significant rise in smoking was observed in women (59% vs 41%, p=.25), while the prevalence of adenocarcinoma was unchanged (45% vs 44%, p=.9). The main changes observed were the increase in cases with previous malignancies (23% vs 16%, p=.04), the rise in patients with no associated LC symptoms (33% vs 16%, p<.001), and an increased number of localized NSCLC (non-small cell LC) diagnoses (42% vs 24% in series 2, p<.001 and 14.2% in series 1, p<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of LC patients diagnosed in localized stages has increased significantly. Furthermore, the number of patients with no symptoms associated with LC and with a history of previous malignancy were significantly increased.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo (CHUVI), Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Vigo (IBIV), Vigo, España.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Leiro-Fernández
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo (CHUVI), Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Vigo (IBIV), Vigo, España.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mouronte-Roibás
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo (CHUVI), Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Vigo (IBIV), Vigo, España.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ramos-Hernández
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo (CHUVI), Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Vigo (IBIV), Vigo, España.
authors.forename: Maribel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Botana-Rial
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo (CHUVI), Vigo, España.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González-Piñeiro
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo (CHUVI), Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Vigo (IBIV), Vigo, España.
authors.forename: Esmeralda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo (CHUVI), Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Vigo (IBIV), Vigo, España.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Represas-Represas
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo (CHUVI), Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Vigo (IBIV), Vigo, España. Electronic address: alberto.fernandez.villar@sergas.es.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández-Villar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Cambios epidemiológicos; Cáncer broncogénico; Epidemiology changes; Estadio tumoral; Lung cancer; Tabaquismo; Tobacco smoking; Tumor stage