Cancer of the Lung In Rhodesian Blacks

A retrospective survey has been carried out on lung cancer as seen in a large referral hospital in Rhodesia. The incidence of this disease is less common than in Europe and North America, but more common than in some other countries in Africa. Smoking was one important aetiological factor and mining, particularly gold mining, may have been another. Squamous cell tumours were more common and anaplastic tumours less common than in many other parts of the world. Both types were associated with cigarette smoking. The clinical presentation was similar to that in other series. Many patients presented with advanced disease and only 10% underwent radical surgery. Most of the patients were lost to follow-up and the remainder died wiihin 5 years