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Lung cancer is the second most common cancer and is by far the leading cause of cancer death. Most patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are diagnosed at stage IV and approximately one third at stage III disease. Early-stage diagnosis is a challenge and is associated with improved survival, often providing the opportunity for cure. The aim of our study was to analyze the epidemiological, clinical and pathological characteristics of NSCLC in Albania.

The data of 225 Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients diagnosed in the Clinic of Oncology at University Hospital Center Mother Teresa, during 2016-2020 were retrospectively analyzed, to identify characteristics and pattern of lung cancer in Albania. Demographic, clinical and histopathological were reviewed. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 26 (SPSS, Chicago, IL).

The patients’ mean age at the diagnosis was 64 years old (range 32-89 years) and the male to female rate was 11.6:1. Forty percent and 38,7% of the patients at the diagnosis were in the age group 66-75 and 56-65 years old respectively, and only 2,7% were under 45 years old.  Eighty four percent of the patients had smoking history and of them only 4% were female. Main primary tumor location was in the right side, 61%. Squamous cell carcinoma was the main histopathologic type with 67%, adenocarcinoma 31% and 63 % of the cases were moderate differentiated.  At the diagnosis 45.3% were stage III, 40% were stage IV and only 3.1 % stage I. Sixty seven percent of the patients diagnosed at stage III and IV were in 56-75 years old and 92% of them were male.  According to the tumor stage 27% and 35% were T3 and T4 respectively and about 47% were N2 stage at the diagnosis and 8% were N3. According to the region distribution of the NSCLC the data showed a homogeneous distribution with a higher peak in the central region with 30.6%, Tirana and coastal region with 26 % each and 17.4% in the mountain region. In the multivariate analysis significant correlation was found in gender with histopathological type (p<0.0001), disease stage at diagnosis (p=0.04) and smoking (p<0.0001).

Our data represent the first evaluation of NSCLC in Albania. High percentage on advanced and metastatic stage at diagnosis confirms that early diagnosis of NSCLC remains a challenge in our country. Implementation of screening program and sensibilisation on the smoking risk remain crucial.