Lung Cancer Flashcards
What types of lung cancer are associated with smoking?
Small cell
Squamous - most common in smokers
S = smoking
What type is most common in non-smokers and where in the lung is it most commonly found?
Adenocarcinoma
Peripheries of lung
What non-small cell carcinoma has the worst prognosis and where is it found in the lung commonly?
Large cell
All over the lung
What type is found commonly at the hilum of the lung and as a result commonly locally invades oesophagus etc.
Squamous
What type of cancer is associated with Cushing’s syndrome which is caused by increased ACTH (adrenocorcticotropic hormone)
Give symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome
Small cell carcinoma
Central obesity with striae (stretch marks)
Thin arms and legs
Moon face with red cheeks
“Buffalo back” (fat lump on back of neck)
Poor wound healing
What are the common sites of mestases of primary lung cancer?
BLAB
Brain
Liver
Adrenal
Bone
A 56 yo male ex-smoker goes for a CXR following presentation of red flag symptoms (weight loss, haemoptysis).
Discovers solitary nodule on right lung, adjacent to right main bronchus.
What is most likely to be found on biopsy?
A. Adenocarcinoma B. Squamous cell carcinoma C. Stomach cancer mestasis D. Small cell carcinoma E. Mesothelioma
B. Squamous cell carcinoma
Could be either small cell or squamous but small cell is a much rarer cancer (only 10% of lung cancers are small cell) so more likely to be squamous
Why may a patient experience pleuritic pain?
What cancer types would this be more common in?
If tumour invades chest wall
Mesothelium
Adenocarcinoma
Large cell
red flag signs of lung cancer
Haemoptysis
Weight loss
Symptoms of lung cancer
CDE
Cough
Dysponea
Expiratory wheeze
Finger clubbing
Recurrent pneumonia (due to blockage to part of lung)
Fatigue/tiredness
Why may a patient present with a hoarse voice?
Invasion of mediastinum
Compress L recurrent laryngeal nerve
What is a Pancoast tumour and how is a patient likely to present with it?
Tumour at apex of lung
Miosis - constricted pupil
Ptosis - drooped eyelid
Anhidrosis - no facial sweating
Muscle wastage in hand
Signs of lung cancer of CXR?
Lung collapse
Consolidation
Hilar enlargement
Pneumonia/effusion
How do you diagnose lung cancer?
Bronchoscopy + biopsy
FNA (fine needle aspiration) - if peripheral
What is the most important form of treatment
Smoking cessation