Abstract: Objective To analyze the characteristics of new cases of lung cancer in the northeast negion of Sichuan from 2016 to 2020, so as to provide scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of lung cancer in this region. Methods The data of 3 146 new cases of lung cancer in the northeast negion of Sichuan were derived from two medical record management information systems in Nanchong from 2016 to 2020. The new cases of lung cancer were analyzed by descriptive epidemiological analysis method. Results Among the 3 146 new cases of lung cancer, there were 570, 604, 591, 658 and 723 cases in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively, and the number of cases increased year by year. Male cases accounted for 53.3%, mainly aged 60-76 years （47.5%）. There was no significant difference in gender and histopathological classification distribution of new lung cancer cases from 2016 to 2020 （all P>0.05）, but there was significant difference in age distribution （P<0.01）, and the incidence showed a younger trend. The main clinical manifestations were cough （75.08%）, hemoptysis or spit blood （31.98%）, chest pain （64.02%）, shortness of breath or wheezing （50.25%）, fever （39.00%） and dysphagia （20.79%）. Adenocarcinoma was the main histopathological classification （1 515 cases, accounting for 48.16%）, followed by squamous cell carcinoma （824 cases, accounting for 26.19%） and small cell carcinoma （560 cases, accounting for 17.80%）, and 247 other types, accounting for 7.85%. There was significant difference in histopathological classification of lung cancer patients between different genders from 2016 to 2020 （all P<0.01）. The histopathological classification of males was mainly squamous cell carcinoma and that of females was mainly adenocarcinoma. There were statistically significant differences in the distribution of histopathological classification of lung cancer cases of different ages in 2016, 2017 and 2018 （P<0.01 or P<0.05）. Conclusion The incidence of lung cancer in the northeast negion of Sichuan from 2016 to 2020 tends to be younger, with adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma more common, effective interventions should be taken according to the characteristics of lung cancer cases to reduce the disease burden.

Key words: Lung cancer, Case characteristics, Epidemiological characteristics, Pathological classification