Type and mode of diagnosis of carcinoma lung in a tertiary care centre: one year experience

Background: Lung cancer is one of the commonest cancers and cause of cancer related deaths all over the world. The reported incidence of adenocarcinoma is increasing globally and now reported to be the most common type of lung cancer. A panel of investigations are used for the diagnosis of lung cancer. Hence a study was planned to find out the pattern of malignancy and the most appropriate investigation for diagnosis. Objective of present study was to find out the type of carcinoma lung and to find out the best and easy method for diagnosis of carcinoma lung in a tertiary care centre.Methods: A hospital based cross sectional study was conducted in one unit of the Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Government Medical college, Thiruvananthapuram for a period of one year.148 diagnosed cases of carcinoma lung were enrolled. The type and the methods used for diagnosis were analysed.Results: Adenocarcinoma was the commonest malignancy 57 (38.5%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma 44 (29.7%) and small cell carcinoma 10 (6.75%). Rest of the cases 37 (25%) include non small cell carcinoma, poorly differentiated carcinoma and lymphoma. Diagnosis was established by FNA Lung in 46 (31.1%) patients and bronchoscopy and biopsy in 41 (27.7%). Other methods include TBNA 12 (8.1%), lymph node FNA/biopsy 11 (7.4%), pleural fluid cytology 24 (16.2%), sputum cytology and tru cut biopsy 14 (9.5%).Conclusions: The most common type of lung malignancy in present study was adenocarcinoma. Ultra sound guided FNAC lung and bronchoscopy biopsy were the best methods in present study to confirm the diagnosis