Lung Cancer Flashcards
is a lung cancer more likely to be benign or malignant
malignant
what percentage of smokers die of lung cancer
20%
what are the risk factors for lung cancer
smoking, asbestos, nickel, chromates, radiation, atmosphere pollution
what are the local effects of a pulmonary neoplasia (3)
obstruction of airway (pneumonia), invasion of chest wall (pain), ulceration (haemoptysis)
what are the systemic effects of lung cancer
weight loss, eptopic hormone production
what hormone is produced in squamous cancer
parathyroid hormone (PTH)
what hormone is produced in small cell cancer
adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
what are the four most common smoking associated lung tumour classifications
adenocarcinoma, squamous carcinoma, small cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma
what are the types of lung tumour less associated with smoking
neuroendocrine, bronchial gland
what is a squamous cell carcinoma definitely caused by
smoking
what type of lung cancer is most common in non smokers
adenocarcinoma
what methods are used to diagnose a tumour histologically
bronchoscopy and biopsy
why is classification of tumours important
for prognosis, treatment, pathogenesis/ biology, epidemiology
what is the type of lung cancer with the quickest mortality rate
small cell
which is worst; large cell, squamous or adenocarcinoma
large cell
what is the simplest classification of lung cancer
small cell lung cancer (SCLC) vs non (NSCLC)
how is lung cancer treated
surgical intervention, chemotherapy, new targeted treatments based on DNA
how can immunohistochemistry help distinguish between types of tumours
adenocarcinoma expresses thyroid factor 1, scc expresses nuclear antigen p63 + have high molecular weight
what mutation is seen exclusively in adencarcinoma
point mutations that render the EGFR gene active in the absence of a ligand
what do mutations with a EGFR gene mutation respond to
tyrosine kinase inhibitors
how can targeting the immune response be used in treat NSCLC
as it enhances the immune’s tumour killing response
list the two types of pulmonary epithelium from which carcinomas can arise and gives examples of each
bronchial (ciliated, mucous, neuroendocrine, reserve)
bronchioles/alveoli (clara cells, type 1 and 2 alveolar lining cells)
name the 4 bronchial (large airway) tumours
squamous metaplasia, dysplasia, carinoma in situ, invasive malignancy
what would you call the spread of neoplastic cells along alveolar walls
bronchioloalveolar carcinoma
what are the two prognosis indicators in lung cancer
tumour stage, tumour histological subtype
what is a primary malignant neoplasm called
mesothelioma
what type of tumours don’t tend to spread
carcinoid
what is cancer
uncontrolled growth of tumour cells
how can cancer spread
blood, lymph, serous cavities
what are paraneoplastic effects
systemic effect from biologically active molecules released from the tumour cell that mimic the effects of naturally occurring hormones
why does lung disease have such a poor prognosis
as symptoms don’t tend to develop until disease has reached an incurable stage
how is lung cancer presented
primary tumour, local invasion, metastases, non-metastatic (paraneoplastic)
what is haemoptysis
coughing up blood- tumour creates own fragile and leaky blood supply
why does a lung become smaller as a tumour grows
as the proximal divisions of the bronchial tree get obstructed and the lung tissue shrinks
what are the early symptoms of lung cancer (8)
haeoptysis, cough for more than 3 weeks, breathlessness, recurrent pneumonia/ chest infection that doenst clear up, weight loss, chest/ shoulder pains, tiredness, hoarse voice
what is stirdor
harsh inspiratory wheeze
what are the neighbouring structures that can be affected by local invasion (6)
recurrent laryngeal nerve, pericardium, oesophagus, brachial plexus, pleural cavity, superior vena cava
what causes a hoarse voice
paralysis of the vocal chords by invasion of the recurrent laryngeal nerve
what does local invasion of the pericardium cause
breathlessness, atrial fibrillation, pericardial effusion- fluid build up around heart, squashing it
what does invasion of the oesophagus cause
dysphagia- difficulty swallowing
what can muscle wasting of the hand be cause by
local invasion of the brachial plexus
what does pancoast mean
high up in lung
what is a pleural effusion
build up of fluid around lung
what is anasamoses
when the blood supply has to find an alternative route due to a blockage- invasion of the s.v.c