Small cell lung cancer: a Moroccan retrospective study of 70 cases

Abstract

Background: Lung cancer is the main cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) represents 15-20% of all lung cancers, it is an aggressive neoplasia, with a 5-year mortality of 90% or more. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical features, treatment outcome and survival for patients with SCLC treated in medical oncology department during the period from 2010 to 2018. Material and methods: It is a retrospective study including Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) treated in the department of Medical Oncology at Hassan II University hospital in Fes, from January 2010 to December 2018. Collection of data was obtained through computerized records of patients. The survival was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: The mean age was 59 years. Almost all patients were current smokers. The most frequent symptoms on admission were dyspnea, chest pain and hemoptysis. The stages of SCLC were limited disease in 17 (24,3%) and extensive disease in 53 (75,7%) patients. Contra lateral lung was the most common site of metastasis (42.6%) followed by adrenal gland, brain, liver and bone. The median survival was 25.2, 17.2 and 21.3 months for LS, ES and overall patients, respectively. Conclusion: In conclusion, demographic and clinical features of the patients were similar with the literature. We found a better survival than reported in literature.