Diagnoses Flashcards
What percentage of cancer patients will develop MDD?
> 10%
But ranges 2-50% depending on study. 10% is from a n = 9000 lit review
What percentage of depressed cancer patients also suffer with clinically significant anxiety?
2/3
Does depression worsen cancer prognoses?
Yes
25-40% higher mortality
Which cancers are most likely to be associated with clinical depression?
Lung
Pancreatic
ENT
Lowest in localised skin ca
What point in the cancer journey are depression diagnoses highest?
At cancer diagnosis
What two features of a cancer are associated with higher clinical depression rates?
Metastases
Pain
Which age group is least likely to be depressed in cancer?
Children and adolescents
What two laboratory tests are altered in depressed cancer patients?
- IL-6 (high)
- Cortisol (less diurnal variation)
What are possible biological (i.e. nonpsychosocial) causes of depression in cancer?
Tissue damage leading to inflammatory cytokine release, causing:
- Cytokine-mediated NE/serotonin uptake
- Increased cortisol levels
- Reduced neural growth factors
- Increased tryptophan catabolism
IL-1, TNF-a, IL-6, interferons
What is the main external cause of poorer survival in cancer + depression?
Declining cancer treatment
What side effect of SSRIs is especially concerning in patients on chemo?
NV
What nonpharmacological factors help manage cancer + depression?
- Strong therapeutic relationship
- CBT
- ACT
- Relaxation techniques
- Exercise
What demographic risk factors exist for depression in cancer?
- Female gender
- Older age (likely)
- Less education
- Lower income
- No intimate partner
- Distressed caregivers
What psychological risk factors exist for depression in cancer?
- Preexisting depression
- Pessimism
- “Giving up”
- Neuroticism
- Rumination
- Disagreeable personality
- Avoidant/antisocial coping strategies
Is suicidality solely found in cancer patients who are depressed (vs. not depressed)?
No–it is not diagnostic of depression
What is a pheochromocytoma?
Catecholamine-secreting tumour of either the adrenal medulla or sympathetic ganglia.
Technically, the latter are “catecholamine-secreting paragangliomas”
What percentage of pheochromocytomas are sporadic vs. genetic?
60% sporadic
40% familial
What is the “classic” pheo presentation?
Episodic headache / sweating / tachycardia
What is the most common presenting pheo symptom?
Hypertension
(paroxysmal or sustained)
85-95% at diagnosis
What is a pheochromocytoma crisis?
Acute:
1. BP changes (high or low)
2. Hyperthermia >40 C
3. Cognitive changes
4. Organ failure
What metabolic disorder can pheo induce/mimic?
T2DM
- catecholamines can cause insulin resistance
What % of pheos are found incidentally?
60%
What important treatment must be given before manipulating a pheochromocytoma?
Sympathetic antagonism
a-blockade
(phenoxybenzamine)
then
low-dose B-blockade w. nonspecific BB
never begin B-blockade before a
consider high-Na diet to maintain volume
Are most catecholamine-secreting tumours benign?
Yes
90%
What is a hyperadrenergic spell?
Acute, self limited episode for:
- palpitations
- sweating
- HA
- tremor
- pallor
MOST ARE NOT PHEO-RELATED
Which medications should be discontinued prior to pheochromocytoma investigations?
(because they increase catecholamine levels)
- TCAs
- Decongestants
- Amphetamines
- Ethanol
- L-dopa
- Most psychoactive rx (not SSRIs)
What is the standard first test for suspected pheo?
24-hour urine catecholamines/metanephrins
Which 2 cancers are most associated with SCVO?
NHL
lung
What are the most common SVCO symptoms?
Dyspnea (most common)
Facial/upper limb edema
Chest pain
How is SVCO graded?
0-5
- Edema + vascular distension
- Functional impairment from edema
- Cerebral or laryngeal edema
- Severe cerebral or laryngeal edema (stridor), or hemodynamic compromise (spontaneous syncope)
- Death
Most presente grade 1-2
What is the best imaging modality for SVCO?
CT w. contrast
What grade of SVCO is considered a medical emergency?
4
- severe laryngeal edema
- reduced LOC from cerebral edema
- central airway obstruction
What is the immediate approach to SVCO, grade 4 presentation?
ACLS to stabilise, then emergent stenting or thrombectomy
What is the approach to SVCO, grade 1-3 presentation?
- Identify cause
- Stent (esp. if chemo/radioresistant tumour)
- Chemotherapy if lymphoma/SCLC
- Radiotherapy if sensitive
- Surgery (rare)
What two signs are indicative of inflammatory breast ca?
Skin erythema
Peau d’orange (edema)
1/3+ of breast
What are the diagnostic criteria for inflammatory breast ca?
- Erythema or edema or warmth on 1/3+ of breast
- Duration <6mo
- Pathology+ breast ca
What percentage of breast ca are inflammatory?
1-2%
For which cancer is paracentesis not an ideal treatment for ascites?
Ovarian
(tends to be mucinous)
In which population is diuresis the first-line treatment for ascites?
Portal hypertension
- cirrhosis
- large-volume liver disease
- HCC
What test distinguishes ascites likely to respond to diuresis?
Serum-ascites albumin gradient >11
this indicates transudative ascites
What is the usual dose ratio for diuretics in ascites?
5:2
Spironolactone 100mg + furosemide 40mg
What intervention for ascites has a poor risk:benefit ratio?
Peritoneovenous shunting
In which population are large-volume paracenteses safer, malignant- or portal-hypertention-related ascites?
Malignant ascites
Do patients with malignant ascites require post-para albumin?
Probably not
What volume of transudative ascites likely warrants albumin infusion?
> 5L
What is the albumin dose post-paracentesis, if indicated?
6-8g per L of fluid, maybe lower
What is the most common cause of “malignant” or transudative ascites?
Peritoneal metastases
What is the first test for patients with restless leg syndrome?
iron studies
(and workup of the cause of iron deficiency if present)
What substances can worsen the symptoms of restless leg syndrome?
- EtOH
- Caffeine
- Dopamine antagonists
- Antidepressants
- First-gen antihistamines
List some nonpharm. options for managing restless leg syndrome.
- Good sleep hygiene
- Distractions when resting (e.g. games, work)
- Regular exercise
- Moist heat on legs
- Leg massage
- SCDs
What is the first prn drug for occasional RLS symptoms?
Sinemet
When is regular therapy indicated in RLS?
symptoms 2+ days/wk
symptoms impact QOL
What is the best class of drugs first-line for regular treatment of RLS?
HS gabapentinoids
What is the second-line drug class for RLS?
dopamine agonists
e.g. pramipexole, ropinirole, rotigotine
What is the third-line approach to RLS?
- Combine gabapentinoid + dopamine agonist
- Low-dose opioid
What are the core clinical features of Lewy Body Dementia?
- Fluctuating attention/LOC
- Well-formed visual hallucinations
- REM sleep disorder
- Bradykinesia or rigidity or resting tremor
What secondary features may develop in Lewy Body Dementia?
- Profound sensitivity to antipsychotics
- Parkinson-type symptoms
- ANS dysfunction
- Psychotic features
What class of drug is first-line treatment for LBD?
Cholinesterase inhibitors (e.g. donepezil, rivastigmine)
What are possible effects of antipsychotic medication in LBD?
- Parkinsonian crisis
- Severe ANS dysfunction
- Confusion
- Death
If using antipsychotics in LBD, name 2 options.
Quetiapine
Clozapine
What are the 3 realms of symptoms present in Huntington disease?
- Movement/neurological
- Psychiatric
- Cognitive
What is the defining cognitive impairment in Huntington disease?
Exective dysfunction
List some psychiatric symptoms of Huntington disease
- Depression
- Dysphoria
- Apathy
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Agitation
- Psychosis
What are the first- and second-line treatments for HD chorea?
1st line:
- vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT 2) inhibitors
- deu/tetrabenazine
- can cause depression
2nd line:
- atypical antipsychotics
- first line in patients with psychiatric disturbance
What is the currently accepted term for “complicated grief”?
Prolonged grief disorder
What is (probably) the general prevalence of prolonged grief disorder among the bereaved?
10%
studies suck
What is the prevalence of prolonged grief disorder in those who have lost their SO?
10-20%
What is the prevalence of prolonged grief disorder in those who have lost a child?
60%
List 5 risk factors for prolonged grief disorder (9)
- Age >60
- Female
- Low SES
- Marginalised populations
- Previous mood disorder
- Loss of child or spouse
- Young decedent
- Death by trauma
- Multiple losses