Distinctive features of lung cancer in women

<bold>Background:</bold> Lung cancer in women ranks as the 3th most common cancer in terms of incidence, and mortality rates are on the rise. This cancer exhibits distinctive features influenced by environmental, genetic, and hormonal factors, alongside the significant role of smoking, which is on the rise among the female population. <bold>Methods:</bold> Our study involves 64 cases of lung cancer in women gathered at the Respiratory Diseases Department of Ibn Rochd Hospital in Casablanca between 2020 and 2023. <bold>Findings:</bold> The average age was 60 years. Rural origin was predominant in 80% of women, with 67% exposed to wood smoke, 12% active smokers, and 19% exposed to passive smoking. Symptomatology was dominated by chest pain (84%) and dyspnea (79%). Clinical examination revealed pleural effusion syndrome in 40% of cases, peripheral adenopathies in 6%, and was normal in 54% of cases. Chest CT scan showed a tumoral tissue process in 95% of cases. Diagnosis was obtained through bronchial biopsy (60%), pleural biopsy (22%), or transparietal thoracic biopsy (10%). Adenocarcinoma constituted the majority of histological types (68%), with diagnosis remaining inconclusive in 6% of cases due to overall health deterioration. The majority of carcinomas were categorized as stage IV. Among the 64 patients, 46 received palliative treatment, 10 received chemo-radiotherapy, and 6 died. Surgical treatment and immunotherapy were indicated for two patients each. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Our study highlights the underestimated prevalence of lung cancer in women, emphasizing wood smoke exposure as a key carcinogen and adenocarcinoma as the primary histological subtype. This underscores the need for targeted public health efforts for early detection and prevention.