609 - 610 - Lung Cancer Flashcards
How does lung cancer present?
- cough
- hemoptysis
- wheezing
- bronchial obstruction
- pneumonic “coin” lesion on x-ray film or noncalcified nodule on CT
Are primary neoplasms or metastases more common in the lungs?
metastases
What are the common sites of metastasis from lung cancer?
- Adrenals
- Brain
- Bone (→ pathologic fracture)
- Liver (→ jaundice, hepatomegaly)
What are the complications of lung cancer?
SPHERE of complications: Superior vena cava syndrome Pancoast tumor Horner syndrome Endocrine (paraneoplastic) Recurrent laryngeal symptoms (hoarseness) Effusions (pleural or pericardial)
What is the only type of lung cancer that is not associated with smoking?
bronchial carcinoid
Which lung cancers are centrally located?
Squamous and Small cell carcinomas are “Sentral”
What is the most common lung cancer in nonsmokers and overall (except for metastases)?
Adenocarcinoma
What mutations lead to adenocarcinoma?
activating mutations including k-ras, EGFR, adn ALK
What is the fancy medical term for clubbing?
hypertrophic osteoarthropathy
What does chest x-ray show in the bornchioloalveolar subtype of adenocarcinoma (adenocarcinoma in situ)?
hazy infiltrates similar to pneumonia
What is the prognosis of bronchioloalveolar subtype adenocarcinoma (in situ)?
Excellent
How does bronchioloalveolar subtype adenocarcinoma look histologically?
grows along alveolar septa → apparent “thickening” of alveolar walls
Is adenocarcinoma central or peripheral?
peripheral
How does squamous cell carcinoma present?
Central: hilar mass arising from bronchus
Cavitation
hyperCalcemia (produces PTHrP)
Cigarette smokers
What does squamous cell carcinoma look like hisotologically?
Keratin pearls Intercellular bridges (made of desmosomes connecting the squamous cells)