Clinical Features and Investigation of Lung Cancer Flashcards
What are the common clinical presentations of lung tumors?
Local symptoms include persistent cough, hemoptysis, dyspnea, chest pain, and wheezing. Extrathoracic symptoms include weight loss, fatigue, anorexia, bone pain, and headache. Paraneoplastic syndromes may present as hypercalcemia, SIADH, and Cushing’s syndrome.
What are the causes of a localized opacity (coin lesion) on a chest X-ray?
Benign causes include granulomas, hamartomas, and infectious lesions. Malignant causes include primary lung cancer and metastatic lesions. Other causes may include rheumatoid nodules and pulmonary infarcts.
What are the types of lung carcinoma?
Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (NSCLC) includes adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (SCLC) is more aggressive and strongly associated with smoking.
What is the epidemiology and pathogenesis of primary lung cancer?
Epidemiology: Leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with risk factors including smoking, asbestos exposure, and family history. Pathogenesis involves genetic mutations, carcinogenic exposure, and tumor microenvironment.
How does lung cancer spread both within and outside the thorax?
Within the thorax, it spreads through local invasion and lymphatic spread. Outside the thorax, it spreads via hematogenous routes to distant organs, causing various extrathoracic symptoms.
What is the investigation and staging process for lung cancer?
Investigations include chest X-ray, CT scan, PET-CT scan, biopsy, and molecular testing. Staging follows the TNM system, assessing tumor size, lymph node involvement, and metastasis.
What is the role of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) in the diagnosis and management of lung cancer?
The MDT includes oncologists, thoracic surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, pulmonologists, nurses, and social workers, all contributing to patient care and management.
