Lung Cancer Flashcards

1
Q

What percentage of lung cancers are thought to be due to smoking

A

80-90%

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2
Q

What are the risk factors for lung cancer?

A
Smoking
Passive smoking
Asbestos
Previous radiotherapy to the chest 
Family history 
Rarely: inhalation of radon gas, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nickel, chromate, inorganic arsenicals
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3
Q

What are the different types of lung cancer?

A

Small cell

Non small cell:

  • large cell carcinoma
  • adenocarcinoma (often peripheral)
  • squamous cell carcinoma (often in proximal segmental bronchi)
  • carcinoid

Pleural cancers e.g. mesothelioma

lung cancers commonly have mixed histology

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4
Q

What are the common sites of metastatic spread in lung cancer?

A
Regional lymph nodes
Bone
Liver
Adrenals
CNS
Skin
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5
Q

Which types of lung cancer carries the greatest risk of dissemination?

A

Small cell lung cancer

> 90% have either overt or occult mets at presentation.

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6
Q

Where in the lungs to small cell lung cancers most commonly arise?

A

Large airways, derived from neuroendocrine cells.

can rarely present as a small peripheral nodule

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7
Q

What symptoms may lung cancer present with?

A
Persistent cough
Haemoptysis 
Dyspnoea
Recurrent chest infections
Chest pain (constant, progressive)
Hoarse voice (vocal cord palsy)
Fatigue
Weight loss
Symptoms from metastatic disease
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8
Q

What signs may lung cancer present with?

A
Pleural effusion
Wheeze, stridor
SVC obstruction 
Horner's syndrome, arm or hand pain/weakness (apical cancer)
Paraneoplastic syndromes
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