AUTOPSY FINDINGS IN SMALL-CELL LUNG-CANCER

The objective of this study was to assess the pattern of autopsy findi ngs in 174 small cell lung cancer patients treated between 1971 and 19 91 at seven Polish medical centres. Eighty nine autopsied patients wer e previously treated with different chemotherapy regimens including 32 patients who also received chest irradiation, 74 received only suppor tive care and for 11 patients the data on treatment were not available . The age range at diagnosis was 28-81 years (median 57); there were 3 9 females (22%) and 135 males (78%). Seventy two patients had limited disease at the time of diagnosis, 86 - extensive disease and in 16 the disease extent was not determined. The primary tumor and/or metastase s in regional lymph nodes were present in 157 autopsies (90%). There w as a significant difference in the rate of locoregional disease found at autopsy in patients given chemotherapy and in those who received on ly supportive care (85% and 100%, respectively;p = 0.01). Chest radiat ion therapy given in limited disease as an adjunct to chemotherapy did not decrease the rate of persistent locoregional disease (primary tum or in the chest was found in 92% of irradiated and in 96% of nonirradi ated patients). Locoregional tumor deposit only was found in 28 (16%). Distant metastases were distributed in 143 patients (82%) and were fo und in 25 different locations, most frequently in liver (49%), suprare nal glands (25%), peripheral lymph nodes (21%), kidneys (18%), brain ( 17%) and pancreas (12%). In 3 patients no tumor foci were found. The n umber of organs involved varied between 0 and 10 (median 3). The numbe r of involved organs was not dependent on the disease extent at the ti me of diagnosis and on the type of treatment.