Which location is more commonly affected by primary lung cancer?

Which location is more commonly affected by primary lung cancer?

• A. Central
• B. Peripheral
• C. Upper Lobe
• D. Lower Lobe

Answer: (A)

Most primary lung cancers originate in the central airways—the trachea and main bronchi near the hilum. This central predilection comes from the fact that the cancers most commonly linked to smoking, namely squamous cell carcinoma and small cell carcinoma, arise from the bronchial epithelium. They tend to grow within or just around the larger airways, producing endobronchial involvement and symptoms like coughing, wheeze, or hemoptysis. Imaging often shows a central or hilar mass with possible airway obstruction. Although adenocarcinoma is now the most common histology overall and tends to be peripheral, the overall distribution across all primary lung cancers remains centered in the central region.

Most primary lung cancers originate in the central airways—the trachea and main bronchi near the hilum. This central predilection comes from the fact that the cancers most commonly linked to smoking, namely squamous cell carcinoma and small cell carcinoma, arise from the bronchial epithelium. They tend to grow within or just around the larger airways, producing endobronchial involvement and symptoms like coughing, wheeze, or hemoptysis. Imaging often shows a central or hilar mass with possible airway obstruction. Although adenocarcinoma is now the most common histology overall and tends to be peripheral, the overall distribution across all primary lung cancers remains centered in the central region.