Small cell lung carcinoma: Better than its reputation

Abstract

Hans Rostad, Erik Heyerdahl Strøm, Helge Scott, Maria Ramnefjell, Kjell Kjellevold

Purpose: Identify the proportion of patients with small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) who were alive five years or more after the diagnosis in the period 2000-2005. Of the 2 270 patients diagnosed with SCLC 94 had survived five years or more. All morphological diagnoses were reviewed and in 72 cases the diagnosis was maintained. In 15 patients the diagnosis was changed, and seven discarded. Of the maintained 7% were disseminated and 93% limited disease. The favorable survival of the 72 patients is most likely caused by the high percentage of limited disease. The application of biomarkers may hopefully assist in identifying patients with favorable prognosis in the future.