Fatal infection in patients treated for small cell lung cancer in the Institute of Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases in the years 1980-1994

The study was performed to explore the Frequency of infections present at d eath and infection as the main cause of death (Fatal infection F1) in 845 c onsecutive patients (pts) treated for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) at the Institute of Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases in Warsaw. in the period 1980- 1994. Diagnosis of infection was based on clinical signs and symptoms. the presence of new lesions on thr chest X-ray microbiological tests and-or aut opsy examination. All cases of fungal infection. Pneumocystis carinii pneum onia (PCP) and tuberculosis were proved by autopsy and microscopic examinat ion (including special staining). Fl was diagnosed if no progression of can cer was noted and no other complications occurred. Infection was present at the time of death in 116 patients (13.7%) and FI was the cause of death in 39 of them (4.6%). Nine patients died from fungal infection, eight from ba cterial infection, seven from PCP and two from tuberculosis. In 13 cases th e aetiology of infection found at autopsy was not determined. All FI patien ts received chemotherapy and corticosteroids. 16 of them also had radiother apy on the tumour and mediastinum. Thirty-two out of 35 patients had leucop enia. The risk of death from infection was greater in patients above 60 yea rs of age. Patients in bad performance status died of infection significant ly earlier than others (P<0.05). (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.