Lung Infections and Cancer Flashcards
1
Q
Name 6 common respiratory signs
A
- breathlessness
- cough
- sputum
- haemoptysis
- wheeze
- chest pain
2
Q
Name causes of breathlessness
- sudden onset
- rapid onset
- subacute onset
- slow onset
A
- pulmonary oedema; anaphylaxis, pneumothorax
- PE, pneumonia
- heart failure, lung cancer, pleural effusion
- COPD
3
Q
- what is the cause of purulent sputum?
- why is purulent sputum not always indicative of infection?
- name 2 conditions in which large volumes of sputum are produced
- name a condition whereby sputum tastes putrid
A
- myeloperoxidase from neutrophils/eosinophils
- eosinophils are also activated in asthma
- bronchiectasis and bronchoalveolar carcinoma
- lung abscess (anaerobic infection)
4
Q
- Name a condition where haemoptysis is a pink, frothy sputum
- name a condition where the sputum is “rusty”
A
- pulmonary oedema
2. pneumonia
5
Q
- What is wheeze?
2. What is stridor?
A
- musical noise ON EXHALATION, produced by air moving through narrowed airways
- noise with inhalation
6
Q
- From which structure does pain from respiratory disease come from?
- what can retrosternal pain indicate?
A
- pleura
2. mediastinal tumour
7
Q
Name 3 respiratory causes of clubbing
A
- bronchial carcinoma
- COPD
- pulmonary tuberculosis
8
Q
- What is astrexis?
- Name two causes of astrexis?
- what is intercostal undraping?
A
- tremor of hands
- fine tremor with excessive use of beta2 agonists
flapping tremor with CO2 retention - skin between ribs is drawn inwards to create a larger negative pressure
9
Q
- What pathology causes deviation of the trachea AWAY?
- What pathology causes deviation of the trachea TOWARDS?
- What is the normal cricosternal distance?
- When is the cricosternal distance reduced?
A
- pleural effusion or pneumothorax
- collapse or fibrosis
- 3-4 finger bredths
- hyperinflation
10
Q
- What is the percussive sound made with pleural effusion?
- What is the sound of the wheeze with small airways obstruction?
- What is the sound of the wheeze with large airways obstruction?
A
- stony dull
- polyphonic, high pitched
- monophonic
11
Q
- Name the three most potent carcinogens in cigarette smoke
- Name other carcinogens in cigarette smoke
- Name some occupational/environmental carcinogens
- How may carcinogens act to cause cancer:
a) directly
b) indirectly
A
- polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
tobacco specific nitrosamines
polonium 210 - carcinogenic metals, acetaldehyde, NO, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide
- arsenic, asbestos, ethers, nickel, radon
4a) directly mutagenic
4b) induce inflammation, metaplasia, and hyperplasia
12
Q
- When do small cell carcinomas tend to spread?
- When do non-small cell carcinomas tend to be diagnosed
- What are non-small cell carcinomas further divided into? (3)
A
- early (and hence have poor prognosis)
- whilst they are localised
- adenocarcinoma
squamous cell carcinoma
large cell carcinoma
13
Q
- From which cells do adenocarcinomas arise?
- What is the histology of adenocarcinomas?
- What protein is produced by adenocarcinomas?
- What are most of these cancers caused by?
A
- mucous secreting glandular cells
- abnormal acinar glandular structures
- mucin
- smoking
14
Q
- from which cells do squamous cell carcinoma arise?
- what protein is produced by these cancer cells?
- What are the effects of these carcinomas?
- When do these cancers tend to spread?
A
- squamous cells
- keratin
- highly invasive; obstructs bronchus; occasionally cavitates with central necrosis
- late
15
Q
- From what cells do small cell lung cancers arise?
- what is the histology of these cancers?
- What do these tumours produce? What is the effect of this?
- when do these cancers tend to spread?
A
- neuroendocrine cells
- crowded small cells with hyperchromatic nuclei and sparse cytoplasm
- polypeptide hormones; gives this tumour paraneoplastic syndrome association
- early