Lung Luminescence: Unravelling the tapestry of Cancer Cases by Bronchoscopic biopsies in Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Background: Lung cancer, often diagnosed late, is a leading cause of death worldwide. Bronchoscopic biopsies are crucial for early detection, especially in smokers. In Pakistan, where smoking is prevalent, understanding lung cancer patterns is essential. This study examines the types and locations of lung cancers diagnosed via bronchoscopic biopsies in a tertiary care hospital, providing insights for better diagnosis and treatment. Objective: To determine the prevalence of different types of lung malignancies by using bronchoscopic guided endobronchial biopsies. Methodology: It was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted in the inpatient department of the Department of Pulmonology, Nishtar Medical University Multan, of 43 patients enrolled between June 2022 and Oct 2023 by using a consecutive non-probability sampling method. All were smokers of more than 20 packs a year. Data analysis was done using the SPSS 23 version. Results: Out of 43 patients, 34 (79%) were male and 9 (21%) were female. Bronchoscopic biopsy results showed small cell carcinoma is the most common tumor in our study (15 (34.88%) cases), followed by squamous cell carcinoma 14 (32.55%), adenocarcinoma 6 (13.95%), invasive carcinoma with hepatoid features 1 (2.32%), carcinoid tumor 1 (2.32%), organizing pneumonia 1 (2.32%), and biopsy was inconclusive in 5 (11.62%) cases. Tumor involvement by location was also assessed in the present study. The most common site of origin was found to be left main bronchus 11 (25.58%), followed by right main bronchus 9 (20.93%), left upper lobe 9 (20.93%), right upper lobe 5 (11.62%), left lower lobe 4 (9.30%), lingular lobe 3 (6.97%), and right lower lobe 2 (0.86%). Conclusion: This study revealed that small cell carcinoma is the most prevalent type of lung cancer diagnosed via bronchoscopic biopsies among smokers with over 20 pack-years of smoking history. These findings highlight the critical role of bronchoscopic biopsies in the early detection of lung cancer in high-risk populations, underlining the need for targeted screening and tailored treatment approaches to improve patient outcomes in regions with high smoking prevalence.