Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Respiratory > Lung cancer > Flashcards

Lung cancer Flashcards

1
Q

What ways can lung tumours be classified?

A

Bronchial or pleural

Malignant or benign

Primary or secondary

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What types of malignant bronchial lung tumours are there?

Which are more common?

A

Small cell cacrinoma (15%)

Non-small cell (85%)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the causes of lung cancer?

A 
SMOKING
Asbestos
Genetics
Radon
Coal tar + coal combustion
Iron oxide
Arsenic
Many more
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What types of non-small cell lung cancers are there?

A

Squamous cell
Adenocarcinoma
Large cell
Unspecified

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What genetic mutations can cause lung cancer?

A

A mutation in the gene that codes for EGFR - epithelial growth factor receptor

This causes an increased risk of getting lung cancer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is small cell lung carcinoma?

A

A very aggressive cancer, almost always caused by smoking

It arises from neuroendocrine cells

Secretes polypeptide hormones

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Why did small cell carcinoma get its name?

A

Histologically the cancer cells look very small, and they are almost completely filled by their nucleus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is squamous cell carcinoma?

A

A type of non-small cell lung cancer

Develops from the flat, surface covering squamous cells in the airways.

It is often found near the centre of the lung in one of the main airways, it often presents as an obstructive lesion that has led to infection

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Does small cell lung carcinoma metastasise easily?

A

Yes

Widespread and very early on in the disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Does squamous cell carcinoma metastasise easily?

A

Local metastasis common

Widespread not so much, occurs later in disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is large cell carcinoma?

A

A type of non-small cell lung cancer

It is a poorly differentiated tumour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Why did large cell carcinoma get its name?

A

Because the cells look large and rounded under a microscope.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Does large cell carcinoma metastasise easily?

A

Yes, and early

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is adenocarcinoma?

A

A type of non-small cell carcinoma

Develops from mucus making cells in the lining of the airways.

Often found in the outer areas of the lungs, peripheral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Which type of lung cancer is most commonly seen in non-smokers?

A

Adenocarcinoma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Which type of bronchial cancer (not pleural) is most commonly seen in people who’ve been exposed to asbestos?

A

Adenocarcinoma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is secondary lung cancer?

A

Cancer in the lung that has developed due to cancer that has metastasised from another part of the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Where do lung cancers commonly metastasise to?

A 
Bone
Brain
Lymph glands
Liver
Adrenal glands
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What do you call cancer of the pleura?

A

Mesothelioma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are the symptoms of lung cancer?

A 
Cough
Haemoptysis
Chest pain
Recurrent or slow to resolve pneumonia
Lethargy
Anorexia
Weight loss
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are the signs of lung cancer?

A

Cachexia
Anaemia
Clubbing
Supraclavicular or axillary nodes

Chest signs:

  • consolidation
  • Collapse
  • Pleural effusion

Evidence of local spreading
Evidence of metastasis

22
Q

What are the signs of metastasis in lung cancer?

A

Bone pain
Hepatomegaly
Neurological signs: confusion, fits etc.

23
Q

Where does lung cancer spread to locally?

A

Cancer may spread to

  • pleura
  • ribs
  • brachial plexus
  • left recurrent laryngeal nerve
  • oesophagus
  • IVC
24
Q

What happens if lung cancer spreads to the ribs?

A

Rib pain + fracture

25
What happens if lung cancer spreads to the brachial plexus?
Pain in shoulder and inner arm
26
What happens if lung cancer spreads to the left recurrent laryngeal nerve?
Hoarse voice | Bovine cough
27
What is paraneoplastic syndrome?
A set of signs and symptoms that are the consequence of cancer in the body but not due to the local presence of cancer cells
28
What are the symptoms of paraneoplastic syndrome?
Finger clubbing Hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy ``` Anorexia Cachexia + weight loss Hypercalcaemia Hyponatraemia Peripheral neuropathy ```
29
What is Hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy?
Clubbing and periostitis (inflammation of the periosteum) of small hand joints, especially distal interphalangeal joints, causing pain and swelling
30
What is hyponatraemia? | Why does paraneoplastic syndrome cause it?
Low sodium in blood Paraneoplastic syndrome causes SIADH: syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion Too much ADH = higher blood volume = lower conc of Na
31
Why does paraneoplastic syndrome cause peripheral neuropathy?
Due to Eaton-Lambert syndrome An autoimmune disease that attacks the neuromuscular junction and the ability of nerve cells to send signals to the muscle cells
32
Investigation of lung cancer?
Cytology: sputum + pleural fluid, looks at the structure of the cells CXR: look for nodules, hilar enlargement, consolidation, lung collapse, pleural effusion Fine needle aspiration or biopsy CT: stage the tumour Bronchoscopy: assess operability PET scan
33
What is a PET scan?
Positron emission tomography The radioactive dye is taken up by rapidly dividing cells and is not excreted These rapidly dividing cells light up, they are very likely to be cancerous
34
What 3 things do you need to consider when assessing a patient with possible lung cancer?
1. Is it lung cancer, and if so what type? 2. What stage is the cancer, how resectable is it? 3. Is the patient fit for curative treatment (surgery)?
35
What is the treatment for non-small cell tumours?
For peripheral tumours with non metastatic spread = excision For patients with low respiratory reserve = radiotherapy More advanced disease = chemo + radiotherapy Sometimes biologics can be used such as cetuximab which targets epidermal growth factor receptor
36
What is the treatment of small cell tumours?
They have usually spread by the time they're picked up Chemotherapy: works but they usually relapse Palliative care
37
What palliative care can you give patients with lung cancer?
Radiotherapy: - shrink tumours that are causing obstruction - shrink metastases - treat haemoptysis Pleural drainage - to treat pleural effusions that are causing symptoms Drugs: - Analgesia - Anti-emetics - Bronchodilators - Anti-depressants
38
How can you prevent lung cancer?
Stop smoking | Prevent exposure to harmful substances
39
What is malignant mesothelioma?
Tumour of the mesothelail cells of the pleura | Associated strongly with asbestos exposure
40
Where else in the body can malignant mesothelioma occur?
In the peritoneum or other organs that have a mesothelium - this is rare though
41
What is the latency period of exposure to asbestos and developing malignant mesothelioma?
About 45 years
42
What are the clinical features of malignant mesothelioma?
``` Chest pain Dyspnoea Weight loss Finger clubbing Recurrent pleural effusions Signs of metastases ```
43
What are the signs of metastasis of malignant mesothelioma?
Lymphadenopathy Hepatomegaly Bone pain Abdominal pain: due to peritoneal malignant mesothelioma
44
What are the investigations of malignant mesothelioma?
CXR or CT: look for pleural thickening and pleural effusion Pleural aspiration: fluid appears bloody
45
Management of malignant mesothelioma?
Chemotherapy can improve survival Surgery: rarely possible or helpful Radiotherapy: as above Pleurodesis and indwelling pleural drainage
46
What is pleurodesis?
Procedure in which the pleural space is artificially obliterated It involves the adhesion of the two pleurae.
47
What two types of radiotherapy are there? Describe them
Radical: - Hope to cure - Don't mind side effects - Concerned about long term effects Palliative - No aim to cure - Don't want side effects - No concern about long term effects
48
How can lymphoma involve the lungs?
Sometimes lymphomas can metastasise to the lung You can get primary lymphoma of the pleura BALToma: aggregation of extranodal, monoclonal B- lymphoid cells near the bronchial epithelium
49
What is BALToma?
Bronchus associated tissue lymphoma Aggregation of extranodal, monoclonal B- lymphoid cells near the bronchial epithelium
50
What is a hamartoma?
Irregular benign proliferations of normal tissue - tissue IS usually found in this location - it's not normally found in this pattern however
51
What is the most common type of lung hamartoma?
Chondroid hamartoma Incorporates cartilage, glandular tissue, fat, fibrous tissue, blood vessels

Respiratory (17 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions