Clinical manifestations of bronchogenic carcinoma.

A retrospective clinical study was carried out on 227 pathologically proven cases of bronchogenic carcinoma from eastern Taiwan, between October 1986 and March 1990. The ratio of males to females was low (2.15:1). The most common cell type was adenocarcinoma (39.2%), with squamous cell carcinoma (36.1%) being the second most common. Adenocarcinoma contributed to 51.4% of the bronchogenic carcinoma in women and 33.5% in men. History of cigarette smoking was strongly associated with squamous cell carcinoma and small cell carcinoma. The most common symptom was a cough (69%). The majority of small cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma appeared to be of the central type in location while most adenocarcinoma appeared to be of the peripheral type. Bronchoscopic examination was the most valuable method for confirming the diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma. Most patients presented late and only 19 cases (8.4%) underwent surgery. Aborigines have a lower risk of developing bronchogenic carcinoma. The clinical manifestations of bronchogenic carcinoma in eastern Taiwan are similar to those found in Taiwan as a whole.