Estimated Worldwide Variation and Trends in Incidence of Lung Cancer by Histological Subtype in 2022 and Over Time: A Population-Based Study

This article presents a comprehensive epidemiological analysis of lung cancer, focusing on subtype-specific patterns worldwide. Using data from GLOBOCAN 2022 and other international cancer registries, the study estimated more than 2.48 million new lung cancer cases globally in 2022, with adenocarcinoma being the most common subtype in both men and women. Geographic variation was significant, with East Asia showing the highest incidence of adenocarcinoma and Eastern Europe leading in squamous and small-cell carcinoma among men. Importantly, the study attributed more than 190,000 adenocarcinoma cases to ambient particulate matter (PM) pollution, underscoring the role of environmental exposure in disease burden. Temporal and generational analyses across 19 countries revealed diverse trends in subtype incidence, reflecting evolving risk factors.  This article is important to the global cardiothoracic surgery community as it informs clinical practice, resource planning, and prevention strategies by highlighting shifting patterns in lung cancer subtypes, with implications for early detection and tailored surgical approaches.