LAUSR

Introduction: Albania is a country with a high prevalence of smoking but a national cancer registry has not been initiated yet and data on lung cancer are scarce. Aim - Methods: In 2010-2017, 2646 patients presented to the single university hospital center of lung diseases with either symptoms or an abnormal finding in their chest X-ray and were diagnosed with lung cancer. This is a descriptive retrospective study, reporting data on the histological type of cancer and smoking history. Results: Of the 2646 patients,77 % (n= 2038) were men and 23% (n=608) women. Age range was (16-93), with mean age in men 62.4 ±8,5 and in women 58±10,2. Diagnosis was confirmed by histology: 67% as squamous cell carcinoma, 18% Adenocarcinoma,11% small cell carcinoma and 4% other hystotipes. Regarding NSCLC, 79% of patients had an advanced stage (III and IV). Only 566 patients were non-smokers, 234 were ex-smokers and the remaining 69 % ( n=1846) were current smokers with high exposure (89 pack/years). Day hospital avarage is 6 day, and day range was(1-21) with SD± 6.4. Performance status was:64.2% improved,31.5% idem, 4.3% dead in hospital. Conclusions: In Albania, lung cancer is an increasing pathology (p Policies for smoking cessation should be strengthened and a lung cancer screening program should be initiated.