Lung Cancer

Question 1

Is lung cancer the leading cancer diagnosis in the US?

Answer 1

nope - its the leading cause of DEATH though

Question 2

What is the main cause of lung cancer?

Answer 2

smoking

Question 3

Other than smoking, what are 3 important exposures that can lead to lung cancer?

Answer 3

radiation therapy
asbestos
radon (environmental substances)

Question 4

What are some symptoms of early stage lung cancer?

Answer 4

most are asymptomatic, but hemoptysis, dyspnea, cough and chest pain might occur

Question 5

What are 2 forms of central lung cancer?

Answer 5

squamous cell carcinoma and small cell lung cancer

Question 6

what are 2 types of peripheral lung tumors?

Answer 6

adenocarcinoma and large cell lung cancer

Question 7

which type of lung cancer (central or peripheral) are associated with smoking?

Answer 7

central (squamous cell and small cell)

Question 8

Facial plethora, dilated collateral veins on the chest, extremity edema and headaches are all possible signs of what process?

Answer 8

SVC syndrome in lung cancer: mass compression of venous return through SVC

Question 9

What is a pancoast tumor?

Answer 9

a lung cancer tumor that is apical in location and impinges on the nerves

Question 10

Shoulder pain, brachial plexus compression, and horner’s syndrome are all part of what kind of tumor presentation?

Answer 10

pancoast tumor

Question 11

constricted pupils, drooping of the upper eyelid and abscence of sweating in the face are all due to compression of what structure? what is the name for this syndrome?

Answer 11

sympathetic ganglia impingement by pancoast tumors

horner’s syndrome

Question 12

What is the most common form of lung cancer, broadly?

Answer 12

non small cell lung cancer

Question 13

what is required to make a diagnosis of lung cancer?

Answer 13

tissue sampling

Question 14

How should biopsy sites be chosen in working up suspected lung cancer?

Answer 14

the most distal site should be sampled

Question 15

On histology, which kind of lung cancer shows glandular structures? Who tends to have this kind of cancer?

Answer 15

adenocarcinoma

a non small cell cancer seen in smokers AND non smokers

Question 16

Keratin pearls are diagnostic of what kind of cancer on histology? who is commonly affected?

Answer 16

squamous cell non small cell lung cancer

tends to be central

Question 17

Which type of lung cancer has a very poor prognosis?

Answer 17

small cell lung caner

Question 18

What is diagnostic for small cell lung cancer on histology?

Answer 18

small densely packed blue cells, a neuroendocrine tumor

Question 19

A small cell lung cancer confined to a single hemothorax would be classified as what kind of cancer? how would you treat?

Answer 19

LIMITED STAGE

treated with chemo and radiation

Question 20

A small cell lung cancer which is outside of the chest wall or beyond one hemithorax would fall under which classification? how would it be treated?

Answer 20

extensive

not curable, only managed via chemo and immunotherapy

Question 21

What causes mesotheliomas, of which lung pleura is most common?

Answer 21

asbestos exposure

Question 22

What cell types make up non small cell lung cancer?

Answer 22

adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinomas

Question 23

Paraneoplastic syndromes are most often associated with what kind of lung cancer?

Answer 23

small cell lung cancer

Question 24

What is the most common kind of lung cancer seen in never smokers?

Answer 24

adenocarcinoma