| Feature | Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) | Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) |
| Cell Shape and Size | Small, round cells tightly packed together | Several different types of cells, including squamous cells, adenocarcinoma cells, and large cell carcinoma cells. |
| Cell Characteristics | Highly aggressive, grows and spreads quickly, early metastasis | Grows and spreads more slowly |
| Incidence | Accounts for 10% - 15% of all lung cancer cases | Accounts for 85% - 90% of all lung cancer cases |
| Risk Factors | Strongly associated with smoking, exposure to second-hand smoke, exposure to radon, exposure to asbestos, and a family history of lung cancer | Similar to SCLC, including smoking, exposure to second-hand smoke, exposure to radon, exposure to asbestos, and a family history of lung cancer |
| Symptoms | Similar to NSCLC, including cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, and weight loss. It may also cause neurologic problems, including difficulty with coordination and memory loss | Similar to SCLC, including cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, and weight loss |
| Treatment | Usually treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy | Treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of these treatments. In some cases, immunotherapy may also be used |
| location | Tumors are located in the center of the lungs, often near the bronchi | Tumors are in the outer regions of the lungs. They may also be found in the center of the lungs. |
| Growth rate | Highly aggressive, grows and spreads quickly, early metastasis | Tend to grow and spread more slowly than small cell lung cancer (SCLC) tumors |