Bronchogenic carcinoma in young adults.

ABSTRACT

Clinicopathological features of 26 cases of bronchogenic carcinoma in patients below the age of 40 years have been studied and compared with 271 cases of bronchogenic carcinoma occurring in elderly patients. There was female preponderance (19.23%) in the younger study group compared to the elderly group (6.6%) and increased incidence of smokers in the younger group (57.6% versus 79.3%) and had achieved statistical significance (p < 0.001). Majority (20 out of 26) had a rural background. All the patients were symptomatic at the time of diagnosis and all the 26 cases except one belonged to advanced stage. The incidence of squamous cell carcinoma was almost same for both the age groups. Eighteen of the 26 cases had received antituberculosis chemotherapy by general practitioners before referral to the specialists. Twenty patients were treated initially by palliative radiotherapy and then by chemotherapy.