Pneumonia as a cause of death in patients with lung cancer

Abstract

Background. Lung cancer is a very serious clinical problem in departments of pulmonary diseases. In many patients with lung cancer pneumonia is a secondary cause of death, which is caused not only by the progression of the disease but also by the applied treatment negatively influencing the immunity of human organism. Clinical and radiological symptoms of the infection can frequently suggest the progression of neoplastic disease. That is why in each case of deterioration of the state of patients with lung cancer the proper diagnosis of the cause should be endeavoured in order to implement the right therapeutic procedures.

Patients and methods. We have retrospectively evaluated 70 patients who died in the period between 1997and 1999 in our Department due to lung cancer. Both clinical and bacteriological analyses of deaths were performed and a particular interest in pneumonia as a cause of deat was taken.

Results. Pneumonia was diagnosed in 41 patients with lung cancer (58.5%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae was the main etiological factor of pulmonary infection. In patients with SCLC, the extent of inflammatory changes on chest X-ray and white blood cell count correlated negatively with the period of hospitalisation (R = -0.6 and R = -0.54; p<0.05, respectively).

Conclusions. Lung cancer was the main cause of death in patients died in the Department of Tuberculosis and Pulmonary Diseases, Medical University of Łódź. Pneumonia was diagnosed in 58.5 % as a secondary cause of death in lung cancer patients.