Clinical aspects of Lung cancer Flashcards
What are the different stages at which lung cancer might present?
- Primary tumour
- Local invasion
- Metastatic spread
- Non metastatic (paraneoplastic)
What are the signs and symptoms of Lung cancer?
- Breathlessness
- Cough for 3 weeks
- Haemoptysis
- Unexplained weight loss
- Recurrent chest infection
- Hoarse voice
- Tiredness
- Shoulder pain.
Which infection is commonly associated with lung cancer?
Recurrent pneumonia
What can cause stridor in lung cancer?
Obstruction of the trachea caused by a tumour in the surface mucosa.
How can lung cancer cause SOB?
Narrows the main bronchus involved.
Effect- SOB
What structure is commonly affected in patients presenting with a hoarse voice?
Recurrent laryngeal nerve
What are some common symptoms of pericardial cancer invasions?
- Breathlessness
- AF
- Pericardial effusion
pancoast tumour affects which part of the lung?
affects the top end of the lung on either side.
How would you explain the pathology behind arm/hand weakness?
Pancoast tumour invaded upper chest.
Affected Brachial Plexus
When can lung cancer cause pleural effusion?
When the tumour invades the pleural space. Fluid build up in the pleural cavity.
Symptom- Breathlessness
What are two common presentations of Bone metastasis?
- Localised pain worse at night
2. Pathological fractures
Some common clinical signs of non-metastatic tumours?
- Finger clubbing
- Weight loss
- Hyeprcalcaemia
- Tiredness
- Hyponatraemia
- Thromobphlebitis
What are the common investigations for lung cancer?
- CXR
- Full blood count
- CT/PET
- Bronchoscopy/biopsy
- Na/K/Ca/Alk phosphate
How deos a PET scan work?
Radio-labelled glucose picks up areas of high metabolic activity.
Tumors- very metabolically active
Differential diagnosis for lung cancer?
- TB
- PE
- 2ndary cancer
- Lymphoma
- bronchiectasis
