Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a fast-growing type of
There are three different types of small cell lung cancer:
- Small cell carcinoma (oat cell cancer)
- Mixed small cell/large cell carcinoma
- Combined small cell carcinoma
Most small cell lung cancers are the oat cell type.
Alternative Names
Cancer - lung - small cell; Small cell lung cancer; SCLC
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
About 15% of all lung cancer cases are small cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer is slightly more common in men than women.
Almost all cases of SCLC are due to cigarette smoking. SCLC is rare in those who have never smoked.
SCLC is the most aggressive form of lung cancer. It usually starts in the breathing tubes (bronchi) in the center of the chest. Although the cancer cells are small, they grow very quickly and create large tumors. These tumors often spread rapidly (metastasize) to other parts of the body, including the brain, liver, and bone.
Images
Review Date: 09/26/2010
Reviewed By: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and Yi-Bin
Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts
General Hospital.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
