Epidemiology of Lung Cancer in Women: Risk Factors, Survival, and Screening

OBJECTIVE. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer mortality in both men and
women. Tobacco use causes the vast majority of lung cancer in women but does not explain
all cases, because about one in five women who develop lung cancer have never smoked.

CONCLUSION. Environmental exposures, genetic predisposition, hormonal factors,
and viral infection may all play a role in lung cancer in women. A better understanding may
provide an avenue to more effective screening, diagnosis, and therapy.

Authors: Seth Kligerman and Charles White
AJR:196, February 2011
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