Lung Cancer Flashcards
Where does almost all lung CA arise?
In the epithelial tissue of the airways and alveoli (95%)
T or F:
Lung CA can be either primary or secondary
T
Where is lung CA likely to metastasize to?
- Bone
- Liver
- Brain
What are 5 primary types of lung CA?
- Small cell carcinoma (12%) → SCLC (small cell lung cancer)
- Large cell carcinoma (12%) → NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer)
- Squamous cell carcinoma (27%) → NSCLC
- Adenocarcinoma (30%) → NSCLC
- Mixed group (5%) (Ex. Neuroendocrine cancers, lymphoma)
What are 3 possible causes for lung CA?
- Mostly smoking (>85%)
- Toxins (ex. Asbestos)
- Marijuana?
Overview of Small (oat) cell carcinoma (size of oat grains)
- 99% in smokers, worst form
- Small, oval cells, non resectable
- Aggressive, invasive, early metastasis (especially to the brain)
- Metastasis already occurred at diagnosis (70%)
- Paraneoplastic syndromes (aka ectopic tumor) (ex. tumor releasing ACTH causing Cushings; tumor
releasing ADH)
What is the most common form of lung CA?
Adenocarcinoma
Who is typically affected by adenocarcinomas?
- Women
- Non-smokers
Where does an adenocarcinoma originate?
In the bronchioles and alveoli (peripheral)
T or F:
Squamous cell carcinoma is more common in women.
F, men
Where does squamous cell carcinoma originate?
Has a central origin in the trachea and bronchi
For this CA to arise, it must arise in ________ cells.
Existing
Arises in the intraluminal cells
What other body structure is affected by squamous cell carcinoma? Why?
The mediastinum due to its location
What/where are the hilar nodes and how does this relate to squamous cell carcinoma?
- Hilar = where the bronchi enter the lungs
- Lymph nodes are located in the hilar node region which will contribute to metastasis
Overview of large cell carcinoma:
3
- Large, undifferentiated cells
- Originates in periphery
- Early metastasis → poor prognosis
