6. Respiratory Pathology Flashcards
In the UK how common is the lung cancer the cause of death?
Third most common
How many deaths per year are caused from lung cancer?
40000
List 3 causative factors of lung cancer in Non-smokers
Tobacco
Radon
Asbestos
List the clinical features of lung cancer?
Haemoptysis
Nail bed should be less than 180 degrees
Unexplained or persistant: cough, chest/shoulder pain, chest signs, dyspnoea, hoarseness, finger clubbing
How is staging of cancer performed?
Tumour, Nodes, Metastases
What does T staging indicate?
The location, size and proximity to other organs of the tumour
In terms of location what indicates a higher T staging?
If the tumour is closer to the mediastinum or chest wall (irrespective of its size)
Also if it has spread to the lymph nodes
What is fine needle aspiration?
This is used to sample a few cells which can be looked at by pathologists
Describe how a PET scan is performed?
The patient fasts for 4 hours
Given radiolabelled glucose
The tumour is very metabolically active so will show up clearly on the scan in contrast to the lungs
How is much of M staging performed?
By looking at scans
What is a tumour lung related reason to why patients can get throbbing headaches?
The throbbing headaches can be caused by the build up of tumour in the lymph nodes near the SVC and the build up of pressure in the superior venous system
What is the typical pattern of small cell lung cancer growth?
It grows rapidly and metastasise early
What is the treatment for small cell lung cancer?
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy
What treatment is given if small cell lung cancer patients are very debilitated?
They are given palliative radiotherapy
What is the procedure when the small cell lung cancer tumour disappears?
Prophylactic brain radiotherapy
What is the treatment for local non-small cell lung cancer?
Surgery