Clinicopathological Features of Lung Cancer: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide and represents a major health challenge in Libya. This retrospective study evaluated the clinicopathological features of lung cancer among 53 patients admitted to Benghazi Medical Center between 2016 and 2025. The median age was 60 years, with a predominance of males (79.2%). Adenocarcinoma was the most common histological subtype (45.3%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (20.8%) and small cell carcinoma (7.5%). The main clinical presentations included cough (28.3%), pain (13.2%), and shortness of breath (13.2%). Gross findings revealed frequent vascular involvement (34%) and upper lobe lesions (47.2%). Chest wall invasion was observed across categories: limited (54.7%), severe (28.3%), extensive (15.1%), and minimal (1.9%). Notably, 81.1% of patients presented with stage IV disease at diagnosis. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant associations between vascular involvement and histological subtype (P=0.025), as well as between gender and smoking status (P=0.005). These findings highlight the aggressive nature of lung cancer in Benghazi and underscore the urgent need for improved prevention, early detection, and public health education, particularly targeting male smokers.