Small cell carcinoma of the lung natural history, complications and prognosis
|
Small Cell Carcinoma of the Lung Microchapters |
|
Differentiating Small Cell Carcinoma of the Lung from other Diseases |
|---|
|
Diagnosis |
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Small cell carcinoma of the lung natural history, complications and prognosis On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Small cell carcinoma of the lung natural history, complications and prognosis |
|
FDA on Small cell carcinoma of the lung natural history, complications and prognosis |
|
CDC on Small cell carcinoma of the lung natural history, complications and prognosis |
|
Small cell carcinoma of the lung natural history, complications and prognosis in the news |
|
Blogs on Small cell carcinoma of the lung natural history, complications and prognosis |
|
Directions to Hospitals Treating Small cell carcinoma of the lung |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Vendhan Ramanujam M.B.B.S [2]
Overview
The natural history of untreated small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is extremely poor, with median survival of only 2 months for stage IV SCLC and less than 3 to 4 months for tumors confined to the thorax.[1]
Natural history
Limited-stage disease
At the time of diagnosis, approximately 30% of patients with SCLC will have tumor confined to the hemithorax of origin, the mediastinum, or the supraclavicular lymph nodes. These patients are designated as having limited-stage disease, and most 2-year disease-free survivors come from this group. In limited-stage disease, median survival of 16 to 24 months with current forms of treatment can reasonably be expected. A small proportion of patients with limited-stage disease may benefit from surgery with or without adjuvant chemotherapy; these patients have an even better prognosis.
Extensive-stage disease
Patients with tumors that have spread beyond the supraclavicular areas are said to have extensive-stage disease and have a worse prognosis than patients with limited-stage disease. Median survival of 6 to 12 months is reported with currently available therapy, but long-term disease-free survival is rare.
Complications
Prognosis
Prognostic factors
Although for most patients with small cell carcinoma of lung the current treatment regimens do not provide cure, the potential prognostic factors that are considered to influence the prognosis of the disease, i.e. the chance of recovery and treatment options include the following.
- Cancer staging: TNM staging III (T1a: Tumor size 2 cm or less; N2: Metastasis in ipsilateral peribronchial and/or hilar lymph nodes and intrapulmonary nodes including involvement by direct extension; M0: No distant metastasis) and above has a bad prognosis. Absence of metastases in the brain at diagnosis may be a positive prognostic indicator.[2]
References
- ↑ Green, Robert A.; Humphrey, Edward; Close, Henry; Patno, Mary Ellen (1969). "Alkylating agents in bronchogenic carcinoma". The American Journal of Medicine. 46 (4): 516–525. doi:10.1016/0002-9343(69)90071-0. ISSN 0002-9343.
- ↑ Brueckl WM, Herbst L, Lechler A, Fuchs F, Schoeberl A, Zirlik S; et al. (2006). "Predictive and prognostic factors in small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC)--analysis from routine clinical practice". Anticancer Res. 26 (6C): 4825–32. PMID 17214347.