Lung cancer Flashcards
Lung cancer symptoms
persistent new cough or change in character of pre-existing cough
persistent LRTIs
chest/shoulder pain
dyspnoea
haemoptysis
lethargy, weight loss, anorexia (constitutional symptoms)
hoarseness
Lung cancer signs
often none
clubbing
signs of lung collapse, consolidation, pleural effusion
localised persistent wheeze (monophonic)
stridor
supraclavicular lymphadenopathy
hoarseness
SVC obstruction
Horner’s syndrome
features of paraneoplastic syndromes
SVC obstruction symptoms/signs
dyspnoea
orthopnoea
facial plethora
dilated/engorged veins
raised JVP
arm/face swelling
What causes Horner’s syndrome?
compression of sympathetic chain at roughly the level of C1
Features of Horner’s syndrome
miosis (constricted pupil)
ptosis (upper eyelid drooping)
anhidrosis (no sweat produced on one side of face/forehead)
enophthalmos (sunken in eye)
What are 2 lung cancer medical emergencies?
SVC obstruction
spinal cord compression
What investigations should be done if lung cancer is suspected?
CXR
CT staging (contrast) +/- biopsy
Bronchoscopy
Pulmonary function tests
6-minute-walk test
PET-CT scan
Bone scan
Cardiac investigations
What is WHO performance status 0?
fully active and able to carry out pre-disease activities without restriction
What is WHO performance status 1?
restricted in strenuous activity but ambulatory and able to carry out light work
What is WHO performance status 2?
ambulatory and self-caring, but unable to do light work
up and about more than 50% of the time
What is WHO performance status 3?
limited self care
in bed more than 50 % of the time
What is WHO performance status 4?
unable to self care
confined to bed or chair
Non-small cell lung cancer subtypes
squamous cell carcinoma
adenocarcinoma
large cell carcinoma
What are the 4 mesothelioma subtypes and which is the most common?
epithelioid (most common)
biphasic
sarcomatoid
desmoplastic
Where in the lung are small cell lung cancers normally located?
central
Where in the lung are adenocarcinomas normally located?
peripheral
Where in the lung are squamous cell carcinomas normally located?
central airways
Where in the lung are large cell carcinomas normally located?
peripheral
What factors are considered when staging a lung cancer?
location of primary tumour
tumour size and extent
lymph node involvement
presence of distant metastases
Why is ist important to stage lung cancer?
common language for communicating the severity of a person’s cancer
prognostic information
determines treatment options
What do TNM stand for in lung cancer staging?
T = tumour size
N = extent of spread to lymph nodes
M = presence of metastasis