title: Clinical Features of Neuroendocrine Lung Cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was performed to investigate the clinical features of neuroendocrine lung cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective review of the histopathology and clinical information of 21 patients diagnosed as having neuroendocrine lung cancer between 1995 and 1999.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen cases were male and 2 were female. The median age was 64 years (range: 45~80). Pathologic classification were atypical carcinoid (AC) in 2 cases, large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) in 7 cases, and intermediate cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (ICNC) in 12 cases. Nine patients received tumor resection as first line therapy; adjuvant chemotherapy was given to 3 patients. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy was given to 1 patient. Six patients received palliative chemotherapy. The chemotherapy regimen included etoposide cisplatin in 5 cases and vinorelbine+cisplatin in 1 case. The median survival times were 11, 16 and 59 weeks for AC, LCNEC and ICNC, respectively. The estimated 2-year survival rates were AC 0%, LCNEC 22% and ICNC 31%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgery may have a positive effect on survival in patients with early stage cansers. Further investigation is required to improve survival in cases of advanced stage cancer.
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Neuroendocrine lung neoplasm