Clinical Medicine Insights: Oncology (Jan 2012)

Small Cell Lung Cancer Doubling Time and its Effect on Clinical Presentation: A Concise Review

  • Kassem Harris,
  • Inga Khachaturova,
  • Basem Azab,
  • Theodore Maniatis,
  • Srujitha Murukutla,
  • Michel Chalhoub,
  • Hassan Hatoum,
  • Thomas Kilkenny,
  • Dany Elsayegh,
  • Rabih Maroun,
  • Homam Alkaied

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4137/CMO.S9633
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6

Abstract

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Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is one of many types rapidly growing malignant diseases, such as Burkitt's lymphoma and testicular germ cell cancers. At present, there is no reliable way to screen for SCLC, and imaging modalities tend to be delayed in detecting this type of cancer. The clinical presentation of acutely and rapidly growing SCLC can mimic those of pulmonary inflammatory or infectious disorders, and in some instances, this delays appropriate management and negatively affects patient outcome.