Lung Cancer Flashcards
What are the histological types of lung cancer?
Squamous Cell (40%) Adenocarcinoma (41%) Small cell (15%) Large Cell (4%) [So NSCLC 85%] Adeno tends to be peripheral & squamous central
What other less common types of lung cancer are there?
Sarcoma Lymphoma Carcinoid Tumour Bronchial Tumour Metasteses from elsewhere
What are the causes/risk factors for lung cancer?
85% attributable to Smoking Asbestos Enviromental Radon Other Radiation Air Pollution Pulm. Fibrosis
Where does Lung Cancer commonly metastasise to?
Bones Lymph tissue Adrenals Liver Brain Skin
What are the symptoms of Lung CanceR?
Haemoptysis Dyspnoea Chest & Bone Pain Wheezing Dysphagia Weight Loss Chronic Cough Recurrent Chest Infections Shoulder Pain (Pancoast Tumour)
What are the clinical signs of Lung Cancer?
Hoarse Raspy Voice (L recurrent laryngeal nerve compression)
Clubbing (distinguishes LC from TB)
Lymphadenopathy
Horner’s Syndrome (Cervical Ganglion compression)
Hepatomegaly
Skin Nodules (Metastases)
SVC Obstruction (Face/neck swelling + pumped veins)
What are the possible complications of lung cancer? (warning: lots ahead)
Bronchial Obstruction:
- Lobar Collapse
- Bronchiectasis
- Infection/Endogenous Lipid Pneumonia)
- Abscess
Pleural:
- Pleurisy
- Malignant Invasion
- Effusions/Empyema
Mediastinal:
- SVC obstruction
- Phrenic compression (diaphragm paralysis)
- L recurrent Laryngeal Nerve (Hoarse voice & bovine cough)
- Brachial Plexus (loss of sensation/function in limb)
- Cervical Ganglion (Horner’s Syndrome)
Paraneoplastic Syndromes (Neuroendocrine)
Explain Neuroendocrine complications of Lung Cancer?
Some tumours can release hormones.
Squamous:
Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) -> Decrease in bone calcium & increase in blood calcium -> Fractures, hepatopathy (abdominal pain), constipation, confusion etc
Small Cell:
ADH (antidiuretic) -> Decrease Diuresis plus bodt loses more Na to cope -> Hypertension & diabetes insipidus
ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic) -> Excess CCS -> Immunesuppression -> Ectopic Cushings Syndrome
How is Lung cancer investigated?
Initial Investigations - GP:
CXR - FBC - Serum Calcium (Squamous paraneoplastic) - Bone profile - Clotting Screen - Spirometry - U&E + LFT
Tissue Diagnosis: Bronchoscopy EBUS Lung & liver biopsy FNA Bone Biopsy Explorative Thoracotamy Mediastinoscopy/otomy (smaple mediastinal nodes) Aspiration of pleural effusion
Cardiac Assessment:
CT - MRI - ECHO - ETT - ECG - Coronary Angiogram -
PET(metastases, normally pre-surgery)
What factors affect prognosis?
Stage
Class/Type
Biomarkers
Performance Status
What do we do to assess fitness for surgery?
Spirometry V/Q Scan ABG Diffusion studies Cardiac Assessment PET scan to check for metastases (using FDG glucose analogue)
What predictive biomarkers are there?
Adenocarcinoma - EGFR/KRAS/HER2/BRAF
Squamous - FGFR1/DDR2/FGFR2
What complications are there from surgery?
Empyema Pleural Effusion Pneumothorax Intra-thoracic Bleeding Wound Pain & Infection ARDS Bronchopneumonia MI Pulmonary Thromboembolism
How is a cancer staged?
T = Size and degree of invasion
N = Lymph Node involvement
M = Metastases
Performance status & pulm function are also involved
What difficulties are there with staging?
Other nodules due to TB, abscess, granuloma, fibrosis, paraffinama, benign tumour
Lobar collapse can make the tumour hard to see