Lung cancer: a review

Abstract

The incidence of lung cancer has been increasing at an alarming rate in recent decades. This increase has wide geographic distribution and is particularly notable in the better economically developed countries. Although the startling increase in lung cancer has been most notable in men, the incidence in women, in the USA, for example, has doubled in the past two decades. In this short review are discussed: etiology, pathology, clinical manifestations, extrapleural symptoms of intrathoracic extension, extrathoracic metastatic symptoms, extrathoracic systemic (non metastatic) manifestations, radiological features, diagnostic procedures, surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy.