Epidemiological and histopathological profile of lung Cancer: Insights from a 15-year cross-sectional study at a tertiary care centre in South India.

Background In India, lung cancer accounts for 5.9 % of all cancers and 8.1 % of all cancer-related deaths, with adenocarcinoma emerging as the most common histopathological subtype in developing countries. Aims To analyze the shifting trends in the epidemiology and histopathology of lung cancer over 15 years, with a focus on gender differences in the prevalence of adenocarcinoma. Method This observational, cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care center in Southern India to evaluate the trends in the epidemiology and histopathology of lung cancer over a 15-year period (2008-2022). Data were gathered from patients aged ≥18 diagnosed with primary lung carcinoma. The annual distribution of patients was documented based on age, sex, and tumor histopathology. The analysis was conducted using SPSS software. Results A total of 4466 newly diagnosed primary lung cancer cases were analyzed over a 15-year period. The median age at diagnosis was 64 years, with a shift in age distribution over time. The proportion of female cases rose from 20.1 % to 28.4 %, while male cases declined from 79 % to 71 %, indicating a significant gender shift. Adenocarcinoma was the most common histopathology subtype, increasing from 22 % to 40 % in men and from 32 % to 55 % in women. Significant associations were observed between histopathology subtype and age group, gender, and year of diagnosis. Conclusion The study revealed evolving trends in the lung cancer profile over the last 15 years. A significant increase in the prevalence of adenocarcinoma was observed, with a more pronounced rise among women compared to men.