CLINICO-PATHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS IN YOUNG AND ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH LUNG CANCER

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to determine the differences between the clinico-pathological characteristics of lung cancers among elder and young patients Materials and Method: 160 patients with lung cancer were included in the study retrospectively. Age, gender, diagnostic methods, performances, accompanying diseases and histological types of the cancer of patients were all investigated. Patients were divided into two groups; the younger group, under 65 years of age and the elderly group, over 65 years of age. Both groups were compared according to the clinico-pathological features. Results: There were 124 patients (13 female, 111 male) in the younger group, 36 patients (3 female, 33 male) in the elderly group. Medical comorbidity was significantly higher (p=0.045) in the elderly group. Coughing -expectoration rate was statistically higher (p=0.014) in the younger group. Hemoptysis was significantly higher (p=0.018) in the elderly group. Poor performances were significantly higher (p=0.008) in the elderly group. Adenocarcinoma of the lung was more frequent (p=.0.037) among the younger group whereas squamous cell cancer incidence was higher (p=0.049) in the elderly group. Conclusion: While coughing-expectoration symptoms and the lung adenocarcinoma were significantly higher in the younger group, hemoptysis, medical comorbidity, poor performance and the squamous cell carcinoma were sigficantly more frequent in the elderly group.