lung cancer

Question 1

3 local complications of lung tumours

Answer 1

bronchial obstruction, invasion of local structures, inflammation of pleura/pericardium

Question 2

effect of bronchial obstruction

Answer 2

collapse of distal lung, causing dyspnoea, infections, abscesses, pneumonia, impaired drainage

Question 3

effect of invasion of local structures (vessels and airways)

Answer 3

causes haemoptysis, superior vena cava syndrome (causing venous congestion in head and arms)

Question 4

what can result from oesophagus infiltration

Answer 4

dysphagia (swallowing issues)

Question 5

what can result from nervous invasion

Answer 5

Horner’s syndrome (damage to sympathetic nerves to face, causing eyelid to droop and pupil to constrict)

Question 6

effect of inflammation of pleura/pericardium

Answer 6

pleuritis/pericarditis, with breathlessness and cardiac compromise

Question 7

systemic complications of lung tumour if metastises

Answer 7

causes fits (brain), lumps in skin, deranged liver function tests in liver (and jaundice), pain or fractures in bones