Management of small cell lung cancer

Small-cell lung carcinoma typically presents as a central endobronchial lesion in chronic cigarette smokers with hilar enlargement and disseminated disease. The diagnostic pathology should be reviewed by a pathologist accomplished in reading pulmonary pathology. If any doubts exist in the diagnosis, additional special stains or diagnostic materials should be obtained. The introduction of combination chemotherapy as treatment for this disease has resulted in high response rates and prolonged survival. The management of small-cell lung cancer largely is based on systemic treatment with combination chemotherapy rather than surgical resection, which typically is used for non-small-cell lung cancers.