Validation and comparison of several published prognostic systems for patients with small cell lung cancer

It is commonly considered that idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) predisposes to the occurrence of lung cancer (LC). The frequency of IPF and LC coexistence is assessed at 4,8% to 48,2% depending on the country of origin and type of the report. Based on the medical records in years 1994 – 2009 in the 1st Clinic of Lung Diseases were hospitalized 1701 patients with pulmonary fibrosis of different aetiology including 668 patients with IPF. Between them 21 patients (15 men and 6 women, median age 66 years) with concomitant lung tumor were found (3,1437%). In 62% of these patients histopathological diagnosis of LC was obtained. It constituted 1,946% of deadly coincidence. We have characterized the group in terms of demographic data, histopathological diagnosis, moment of recognizing LC in relation to duration and treatment of IPF, clinical symptoms, images of computed tomography, clinical status and treatment of LC. Low percentage of LC and IPF coexistence is probably caused by underdiagnosis and genetic differences of populations. Unlike most studies, tumors in study population were often localized in the upper lobes (60%). Predilection to lower lobes is explained by more severe fibrosis in this location. Other data characterizing the group are consistent with literature. In the group of interest is men domination (71,4%), cigarette smokers (76%), the median exposure to tobacco smoke 31,5 pack-years, the most frequently asked histopathological diagnosis is squamous cell carcinoma (38%), the predominant location is peripheral.