lung cancer Flashcards
whats the most common type of lung cancer in the people who haven’t smoked
adenocarcinoma
whats the most common genetic mutation in adenocarcinoma
EGFR oncogene
what does the adenocarcinoma look like microscopically
invasive malignant epithelial tumours where there shouldnt be. there are glands that are irregularly sized and shaped an surrounded by a fibrous tissue background. it infiltrates the normal lung tissue and obliterates its structure, turning it into a series of random glands almost.
what are the genes commonly involved in the squamous cell carcinomas
tumour supressor genes such as TP53
whats the gross appearance of the squamous cell carcinoma
an infiltrating hilar mass that is grey/ white in colour and it stems from the bronchial walls.
what is anthracosis
the black pigments of the tumours due to the carbon from smoking
where will we find the tumour mass for the different cancers
the Squamous cells and the small cells carcinoma will be hilar - related to the bronchi
the adenocarcinoma are found more peripherally being under the pleura of the lungs
whats the precursor lesion of squamous cell carcinoma
this is squamous metaplasia of the respiratory epithelium of the bronchus
carcinoma in situ when it is full thickness but yet to invade the basement membrane
what does the squamous cell carcinoma look like histologically
keratinisation and or intracellular bridging in whats called keratin pearls or whorls. the keratinised cells may have rather eosinophilic cytoplasm.
cells hyperchromasia is present in the cells
what is the histological appearance of the small cell carcinoma
the lesions arise from neuroendocrine cells in the lungs. no premalignant lesions
the cells are small with scant cytoplasm, finely granular nuclear chromatin, absent nucleoli, the cells undergo nuclear molding and have ill defined cell boarders
what are the major presentations of someone with some form of lung carcinoma
cough - potentially with blood. chest pains, dyspnoea, weight loss
whats paraneoplastic syndromes
these are signs and symptoms that cannot be explained by local or distant spread of cancerous tumour.
in lung cancers what is the most common cause of the paraneoplastic syndromes
hormone secretion or secretion of hormone like substances
what are the common paraneoplastic syndromes of small cell carcinoma
excess ADH leading to hyponatreamia, ACTH leading to excess cortisol and crushingoid symptoms
what are the common paraneoplastic syndromes of squamous cell carcinomas
excess release of parathyroid hormone-related peptide - leading to signs and symptoms of hypercalcemia
