Lung cancer Flashcards
Presenting complaints about a possible lung cancer case
- Haemoptysis (Bright red blood in sputum)
- Increase in cough and breathlessness
- Ulceration
How would you investigate a possible case of lung cancer?
- Fresh sputum for cytology
- Bronchoscopy and biopsy
- Possible CT scan for assessment of tumour size and local invasion
What treatment would you use for a squamous cell carcinoma and why
Radiotherapy as it will be radiosensitive
When would surgery be unsuitable
- Patient already in respiratory distress (eg due to emphysema)
- INadequate respiratory reserve
Where does a squamous cell carcinoma arise
IN metaplastic epithelium
What is a squamous cell carcinoma in the lung related to
SMoking
What is an adenocarcinoma of the lung related to
Not smoking
How is an adenocarcinoma of the lung presented as
Pleural effusion (build up of water between pleura)
How is an adenocarcinoma of the lung diagnosed
Image-guided biopsy
What is ‘stridor’
High pitched wheezing
What should happen if a patient has stridor
Urgent admission
What is small cell carcinoma of the lung derived from and what is this related to
Pulmonary neuroendocrine cells
-Smoking related
How is small cell carcinoma of lung presented as
Because of local invasion of vital structures (SVC AND OBSTRUCTION OF BRONCHUS)
How os small cell carcinoma of lung diagnosed by
Cytology and biopsy
What is the prognosis of a small cell carcinoma of the lung like
Really bad
