Thoracic Tumours Register

Observational, multicenter study in patients with lung cancer and other thoracic tumors. In a prospective and retrospective way, information will be obtained from the clinical history of each patient.

In Europe, patients with lung cancer have a poor prognosis, and there has been only limited improvement between 1999 and 2007. Potential advantages of the centralization of care and the discussion of treatment strategies in multidisciplinary teams, as suggested in other studies,13 require further research. However, the priorities should be to prevent lung cancer by implementing anti-smoking policies and controlling asbestos exposure throughout Europe, such as was recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2008.14 Other priorities are to reduce levels of residential radon in risk areas, and early diagnosis to improve the results of surgery, which is still the main curative treatment.

The variability in the diagnostic process, treatment and advocacy, as well as the anticipated increase in associated mortality in Spain in coming years, has stimulated the creation of an epidemiological, observational, multicenter study of cases of lung cancer and other thoracic tumors diagnosed and treated by medical personnel, including both thoracic surgeons and medical oncologists. Data from this study will be collected retrospectively and prospectively, so as to enable an extensive study of the epidemiological and therapeutic factors related to the disease.