Histopathological Patterns of Endobronchial Specimen in Lung Cancer Along with Clinicoradiological Correlation in Chattogram, Bangladesh

Introduction: Lung cancer is one of the commonest lethal cancers known till date. Along with the typical symptomatic clinical presentation, it is appropriately detected by various radiographic evaluation methods sometimes initiated for an unrelated problem. Great interest has now been developed in the histological characterisation of lung cancer in view of newer histology guided therapeutic modalities and genomic classification of lung carcinoma. Objective: To explore histopathological patterns of lung cancer in relation to clinicoradiological features. Methods: This prospective study was an observational study conducted in the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ibn Sina Diagnostic & Consultation Center, Chattogram, Bangladesh from January to December 2023. Total 60 patients of suspected lung cancer over a period of one year, to study clinical features, radiological manifestations and histological types of lung cancer. The study was done following a standard study protocol which included a clinical history regarding the onset and progress of the disease, smoking habits, detailed physical examination of the respiratory system, chest roentgenogram, computed tomography of thorax, fiberoptic bronchoscopy and others. Results: Patients mean age was 59.9 years, 85.0% males and 15.0% females. The smoker to non-smoker ratio was 7.8:1. Cough was the most common presenting symptom (86.6%). The most common radiological finding was mass lesion (86.6%), followed by collapse consolidation in 36.25%. Squamous cell carcinoma presented more commonly as hilar mass (58.3%), while adenocarcinoma as peripheral mass lesion (66.7%). The most common finding on histopathological examination was Squamous cell carcinoma (50%), followed by small cell carcinoma (15%) and adenocarcinoma (3.3%). Conclusion: Endobronchial lung biopsy and histopathological examination is an extremely useful method for establishing diagnosis of lung cancer in patients suspected to have malignancy by clinical or radiological criteria.