Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Carcinoma of the Lung: Changing Sex Distribution and Histopathologic Cell Types

  • Chapter
Progress in Surgical Pathology

Abstract

This hospital based study of 1391 patients with histopathologically documented carcinoma of the lung sought to determine the frequencies of major cell types over two 8 year periods (1971–1978 and 1979–1986). The 1391 patients were accessioned in the Cancer Registry Files of the Ben Taub General Hospital, Houston, Texas. Nine hundred and sixty six were men and 425 were women. Seven hundred and four (535 men, 169 women) were seen in the first period of 1971–1978 (Group A), and 687 (431 men, 256 women) were seen in the second period of 1979–1986 (Group B). This study showed the following statistically significant findings: (1) An increase in the proportion of women with carcinoma of the lung (p > 0.001); (2) A difference in the overall distribution of major cell types between men and women (p = 0.001); (3) A decrease in the proportion of squamous cell carcinoma among white men (p = 0.040); (4) An increase in the proportion of small cell carcinoma among white men (p = 0.007); and (5) An increase in the proportion of small cell carcinoma among white women (p = 0.017). This study further showed an increase in the proportion of adenocarcinoma in black and white men and women together (from 25.5% in Group A to 26.6% in Group B); however, this increase did not reach statistical significance. Furthermore, in contrast to previously published studies, our data did not show an increase of adenocarcinoma in women. The cause(s) for these changes remain unknown. However, an understanding of these shifting patterns of major histopathologic cell types is clinically relevant, since tumor cell type is a major determinant in the prognosis and treatment of lung cancer.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Cancer Facts and Figures—1989, American Cancer Society, Inc, Atlanta, GA, 9, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  2. Buffler PA, Contant CF, Pickle LW, et al: Environmental associations with lung cancer in Texas coastal counties, Annual Clinical Cancer Conference on Cancer, Vol 28, in, C.F. Mountain, D.T. Carr (eds): Lung Cancer: Current Status and Prospects for the Future. Austin: The University of Texas Press, 1987, 27–34

    Google Scholar 

  3. Devesa SS, Silverman DT, Young JL, et al: Cancer incidence and mortality trends among whites in the United States, 1947–1984. JNCI 79:701–770, 1987

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Blot WJ: Lung cancer and occupational exposures, in Mizell M, Correa P (eds): Lung Cancer: Causes and Prevention. Deerfield Beach, FL, Verlag Chemie International, 1984, p 47–64

    Google Scholar 

  5. Butler C, Samet JM, Humble CG, et al: Histopathology of lung cancer in New Mexico, 1970–1972 and 1980–1981. JNCI 78:85–90, 1987

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Wu AH, Henderson BE, Thomas DC, et al: Secular trends in histologic types of lung cancer. JNCI 77:53–56, 1986

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Dodds L, Davis S, Polissar L: A population-based study of lung cancer incidence trends by histologic type, 1974–1981. JNCI 76:21–29, 1986

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Khiyami A, Tomashefski JF, Kleinerman J: Patterns of primary lung carcinoma from 1956–1987. Am J Clin Pathol, March 1988, 431A, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  9. Vincent RG, Pickren JW, Lane WW, et al: The changing histopathology of lung cancer: A review of 1,682 cases. Cancer 39:1617–1655, 1977

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Percy C, Horm JW, Goffman TE: Trends in histologic types of lung cancer, SEER 1973–1981, in, Mizzel M and Correa P (eds): Lung Cancer: Causes and Prevention, Verlag Chemie International Inc, 153–159, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  11. Ives JC, Buffler PA, Greenberg SD: Environmental associations and histopathologic patterns of carcinoma of the lung: The challenge and the dilemma in epidemiologic studies. Am Rev Respir Dis 128:195–209, 1983

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Cox JD and Yesner RA: Adenocarcinoma of the lung: Recent results from the Veterans Administration Lung Group. Am Rev Resp Dis 120:1025–1029, 1979

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Feinstein AR, Gelfman NA, Yesner R: The diverse effects of histopathology on manifestations and outcome of lung cancer. Chest 66:225–229, 1974

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Bennett DE, Sasser WF, Ferguson TB: Adenocarcinoma of the lung in men. A clinicopathologic study of 100 cases. Cancer 23:431–439, 1969

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Ashley DJB and Davies HD: Cancer of the lung. Histology and Biologic Behavior. Cancer 20:165–174, 1967

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Fraire AE, Roggli VL, Vollmer RT, et al: Lung cancer heterogeneity: Prognostic implications. Cancer 60:370–375, 1987

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Greenberg SD, Fraire AE, Kinner BM, et al: Tumor cell type versus staging in the prognosis of carcinoma of the lung. Pathology Annual 387:405, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  18. Rothschild H, Buechner H, Welsh R, et al: Histologic typing of lung cancer in Louisiana. Cancer 49:1874–1877, 1982

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Buffler PA, Pickle LW, Mason TJ, et al: The causes of lung cancer in Texas, in M Mizell, P Correa (eds): Lung Cancer: Causes and Prevention. Deerfield Beach, Florida, Verlag Chemie International, Inc., 1984 83–99

    Google Scholar 

  20. Ives JC, Buffler PA, Selwyn BJ, et al: Lung cancer mortality among women employed in high risk industries and occupations in Harris County, Texas, 1977–1988. Am J Epidemiol 127:65–74, 1988

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. The World Health Organization Histological Typing of lung Tumours, ed. 2, Am J Clin Pathol 77:123–136, 1982

    Google Scholar 

  22. Remington RD, Schork MA: Statistics with applications to the biological and health sciences. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1985

    Google Scholar 

  23. Hollingsworth RK: Bronchiogenic carcinoma: An analysis of 343 cases. Ann Int Med 26:377–385, 1947

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Rosenow EC, Can DT: Bronchogenic Carcinoma. Cancer 29(4):233–245, 1979

    Google Scholar 

  25. Johnston WW: Histologic and cytologic patterns of lung cancer in 2580 men and women over a 15-year-period. Acta Cytologica 32:163–168, 1988

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Sridhar KS, Raub W, Duncan RC, et al: Lung carcinoma in 1336 patients. Chest 96:271S, 1989A

    Google Scholar 

  27. Chiming JW, Yulin X: Long term results of surgical treatment of lung cancer. Chest 96:272S, 1989A

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Yesner R: Observer variability and reliability in lung cancer diagnosis. Cancer Chemother Rep 4:55–57, 1973

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Carter D: Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung: An update. Seminars in Diagnostic Pathology 2:226–234, 1985

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Greenberg ER, Korson R, Baker J, et al: Incidence of lung cancer by cell type: A population-based study in New Hampshire and Vermont. JNCI 72:599–603, 1984

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Huhti E, Sutinen S, Reinila A, et al: Lung cancer in a defined geographical area: History and histological types. Thorax 35:660–667, 1980

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Collins NP: Bronchogenic carcinoma: Importance of cell types. AMA Arch Surg 77:925–932, 1958

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Whitwell F: The histopathology of lung cancer in Liverpool. The specificity of the histopathological cell types of lung cancer. Br J Cancer 15:440–459, 1961

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Reinhoff WF, Talbert JL, Wood S: Bronchogenic carcinoma: A study of cases treated at Johns Hopkins Hospital from 1933 to 1958. Ann Surg 161:674–684, 1965

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Tanaka I, Matsubara O, Kasuga T, et al: Increasing incidence and changing histopathology of primary lung cancer in Japan. Cancer 62:1035–1039, 1988

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Beard MC, Annegers JF, Woolner LB, et al: Bronchogenic carcinoma in Olmsted County, 1935–1979. Cancer 55:2026–2030, 1985

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Valaitis J, Warren S, Gamble D: Increasing incidence of adenocarcinoma of the lung. Cancer 47:1042–1046, 1981

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Hinson KFW, Miller AB, Tall R: An assessment of the World Health Organization Classification of the histologic typing of lung tumor applied to biopsy and resected material. Cancer 35:399–405, 1975

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Beard MC, Jedd MB, Woolner LB, et al: Fifty year trend in incidence rates of bronchogenic carcinoma by cell type in Olmsted County, Minnesota. JNCI 80:1404–1407, 1988

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Auerbach O, Garfinkel L, Parks VR: Histologic type of lung cancer in relation to smoking habits, year of diagnosis and site of metastases. Chest 67:382–387, 1975

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Beamis JF, Stein A, Andrews JL: Changing epidemiology of lung cancer: increasing incidence in women. Med Clin North Am 59:319–325, 1975

    Google Scholar 

  42. Andrews JL, Bloom S, Balogh K, et al: Lung cancer in women, Lahey Clinic experience, 1957–1980. Cancer 55:2894–2898, 1985

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Wynder EL, Bross IJ, Cornfield J, et al: Lung cancer in women: A study of environmental factors. N EnglJ Med 255:1111–1121, 1956

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Wynder EL, Covey LS, Mabuchi K: Lung cancer in women: Present and future trends. JNCI 51:391–401, 1973

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Yesner R: Personal communication

    Google Scholar 

  46. Yesner R: Large cell carcinoma of the lung. Seminars in Diagnostic Pathology 2:255–269, 1985

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Cancer Registry Division, Texas Department of Health, personal communication

    Google Scholar 

  48. Mason GA: Cancer of the lung. Review of a thousand cases. Lancet 2:587–591, 1949

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Vallyathan V, Green FHY, Rodman NF, et al: Lung carcinoma by histologic type in coal miners. Arch Pathol Lab Med 109:419–423, 1985

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Cutler SJ, Young JL, Jr: Third National Cancer Survey: Incidence Data, National Cancer Institute Monograph, 1975

    Google Scholar 

  51. Annegers JF, Carr DT, Woolner IB, et al: Incidence, trend and outcome of bronchogenic carcinoma in Olmsted County, Minnesota, 1935–1974. Mayo Clin Proc 53:432–436, 1978

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Modan B: Population distribution of histological types of lung cancer, Epidemiologic aspects in Israel and review of the literature. Israel J Med Sci 14:111–784, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  53. Young JL, Jr, Percy CL, Asire AJ: Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results: Incidence and Mortality data, 1973–1977. National Cancer Institute Monograph, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  54. Anton-Culver H, Culver BD, Kurosaki T, et al: Incidence of lung cancer by histological type from a population-based registry. Cancer Research 48: 6580–6583, 1988

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Armando E. Fraire
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sharon P. Cooper
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Donald Greenberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Patricia A. Buffler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

    Cecilia M. Fenoglio-Preiser M.D. (MacKenzie Professor and Chairman) (MacKenzie Professor and Chairman)

  2. Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Morristown, New Jersey, USA

    Marianne Wolff M.D. (Professor of Clinical Surgical Pathology) (Professor of Clinical Surgical Pathology)

  3. Department of Pathology, Memorial Hospital, Morristown, New Jersey, USA

    Marianne Wolff M.D. (Professor of Clinical Surgical Pathology) (Professor of Clinical Surgical Pathology)

  4. National Cancer Institute, Milan, Italy

    Franco Rilke M.D. (Deputy Director, Director, Professor) (Deputy Director, Director, Professor)

  5. Division of Pathology, Postgraduate School of Anatomic Pathology, University of Pavia, Italy

    Franco Rilke M.D. (Deputy Director, Director, Professor) (Deputy Director, Director, Professor)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1992 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Fraire, A.E., Cooper, S.P., Greenberg, S.D., Buffler, P.A. (1992). Carcinoma of the Lung: Changing Sex Distribution and Histopathologic Cell Types. In: Fenoglio-Preiser, C.M., Wolff, M., Rilke, F. (eds) Progress in Surgical Pathology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-09515-7_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-09515-7_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-09517-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-09515-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation