Lung cancer Flashcards
Pathology of neoplasia can present in 3 ways, what are they?
Local effects (obstruction of airway etc.) Metastases (nodes etc. ) Systemic effect (weight loss etc.)
What is the most common site of metastases of lung cancer?
the brain
A patient presents with pneumonia, how is this a presentation of lung cancer?
tumour partially obstructs bronchus of lobe, causing recurrent pneumonia infections
Localised chest wall pain, how could this be lung cancer?
Tumour invades chest wall, it can grow through intercostal spaces and the mass would lie deep to the pectoralis muscle.
Localised chest pain, worse with movement, if there is bone erosion, the pain can be described as worse at night.
A red flag for lung cancer is haemoptysis, what can cause this?
Fresh haemoptysis from the tumour which is ulcerating through the surface of the bronchial mucosa.
What are the neighbouring structures of the main bronchus which are prone to local invasion?
Recurrent laryngeal nerve Pericardium Oesophagus Brachial plexus Pleural cavity Superior Vena Cava
Invasion of what would cause a hoarse voice?
recurrent laryngeal nerve - paralysis of vocal cord, tumour in upper lobe
Signs that a tumour has invaded the pericardium?
Atrial fibrillation
breathlessness
Pericardial effusion
Invasion of the oesophagus results in?
Dysphagia, particularly to solids
Which structure is invaded to cause weakness in the hand and what is the tumour called?
brachial plexus - Pancoast tumour
Lung cancers can cause ‘ectopic’ hormone production, give an example of this.
SIADH - Syndrome of Inappropriate antidiuretic hormone.
Results in low sodium concentration.
Which type of lung cancer is likely to cause SIADH?
small cell
What are signs of cerebral metastases?
Insidious onset Weakness Visual disturbance Headaches - worse in morning Fits
Which type of lung cancer is most common in smokers?
small cell
What are the types of carcinoma that make up NSCCs?
Large cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma
Adenocarcinoma
Which type of lung cancer is most common in non-smokers?
adenocarcinoma
How do you histologically diagnose lung cancer?
bronchoscopy + biopsy of tumour (if seen)
Biopsy ot needle aspiration of metastases - guided by USS. (mediastinal or supraclavicular lymph nodes)
Which cells do squamous cell carcinomas arise from?
epithelial cells
Hypercalcaemia due to ectopic production of PTH is associated with which carcinoma?
squamous cell
Which cells do adenocarcinomas arise from?
mucus-secreting glandular cells
Which cells do small cell carcinomas arise from?
endocrine cells
Which cells do large cell carcinomas originate from?
transformed epithelial cells
Which carcinoma is keratinising?
squamous
Which is the most malignant?
small cell
Which carcinoma is most likely to cavitate?
squamous cell
Which carcinoma is diagnosed by exclusion?
large cell