Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between hemoptysis and histological type of tumor, bronchoscopic findings, and T stage in primary lung cancer. In a retrospective study records of 231 patients with proven primary lung cancer were reviewed with emphasis on histological type, location of endobronchial tumor, TNM stage in relation to presence of hemoptysis in patient’s history. Hemoptysis was present in 94 (40.7%) of 231 patients with lung cancer. There was no correlation of histological type and hemoptysis occurrence (p=0.59). According to the location of endobronchial tumors, hemoptysis occured in 56.3%, 41.8% and 23.2% of the patients with central, intermediary and peripheral location respectively. The frequency of hemoptysis was statistically significant in centrally located tumors (p=0.001). Furthermore, the occurrence of hemoptysis was significantly more frequent in T4 tumors than in T1, T2 and T3 tumors (p=0.000). Hemoptysis as the initial sign of primary lung cancer occurs mostly in patients with centrally located tumors. Also, hemoptysis occurs more frequently in T4 stage. The onset of bleeding is not influenced by the histological type of tumor.