Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in both men and women.

Histopathologically, lung cancer may be categorized as follows:

Over the past 30 years, there has been an increased incidence of adenocarcinoma, and this may be attributed to modifications in the histologic classification of lung cancer, increased environmental carcinogens exposure, and increasing incidence of lung cancer detection in women.

Women have a greater risk of developing lung cancer than men.

Adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma tend to spread systemically relatively early in their course.

Squamous cell carcinoma frequently invades locally prior to systemic spread.

Small cell lung cancer has a very aggressive behavior, with mediastinal and extrathoracic spread at the time of presentation.

Tissue biopsy is required for tumor diagnosis. Flexible bronchoscopy with transbronchial biopsy is a less-invasive means to obtain tissue sample and is particularly useful for biopsy of large central lesions. It is also useful for biopsy/staging of mediastinal disease.

Brain imaging (MRI, CT) is recommended for all patients with SCLC and for patients with NSCLC who have either signs or symptoms of brain metastases or advanced disease (stage IIIA or higher).

NSCLC is staged using the TNM system.

SCLC is staged using a 2-stage system (VALSG), which characterizes disease as limited stage or extensive stage. Most SCLC is extensive stage at time of diagnosis.

Treatment decisions and prognosis are influenced by histologic subtype, molecular markers, stage of lung cancer, and the patient’s performance status.

Surgery is the treatment of choice for early stage non-small-cell lung cancer.

Chemotherapy is the modality of choice for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy is used to treat small cell lung cancer.

Palliative services should be utilized early in the course of treatment.