Lung Surgery Flashcards
Staging of lung cancer
- Stage 1: Just the lung
- Stage 2: Hilar adenopathy
- Stage 3:
- 3a: Ipsilateral mediastinal adenopathy
- 3b: Contralateral mediastinal adenopathy
- STage 4: Metastatic
Malignant massive pleural effusion occurs in stage ___ lung cancer
Malignant massive pleural effusion occurs in stage 4 lung cancer
So if this is the presentation, surgery basically is not an option. Also, when you tap this, it will recur – you need to pleurodese.
Four most common sites of lung cancer metastasis
- Bone
- Brain
- Liver
- Adrenals
Lung cancer screening guidelines
Subpleural bullae
- Most common cause of spontaneous pneumothorax in otherwise healthy individuals
- Mostly occurs in young, lanky males (Marfanoid body habitus)
- If one side ruptures, the other side usually also has blebs at risk of rupture that need prophylactic management
- Sx more mild than other cases of pneumothorax since there is typically no underlying lung disease
- Treat with video assisted thorascopic surgery (VATS) with bleb lysis
__ is responsible for 70% of secondary spontaneous pneumothoraces
COPD is responsible for 70% of secondary spontaneous pneumothoraces
Pneumothorax in patients with AIDS in the US is usually due to ___.
Pneumothorax in patients with AIDS in the developing world is usually due to ___.
Pneumothorax in patients with AIDS in the US is usually due to pneumocystis pneumonia.
Pneumothorax in patients with AIDS in the developing world is usually due to tuberuclosis pneumonia.
ACCP definition of “small” pneumothorax
Apex of the lung is < 3 cm away from its typical position by CXR due to the presence of air
ACCP guidelines for which pneumothoraces can be safely observed
For primary pneumothorax, < 3 cm (small) and asymptomatic
For secondary pneumothorax, < 1 cm (very small) and asymptomatic
Placing patients on ___ improves the resolution of pneumothorax
Placing patients on supplemental oxygen improves the resolution of pneumothorax
This is because oxygen diffuses more readily through lung tissue than nitrogen or carbon dioxide.
Surgical operations to treat recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax
- Bleb ablation (if blebs are present)
- Pleurodesis (with talc or doxycycline)
With each episode of spontaneous pneumothorax, the odds of recurrence. . .
. . . increase
Simple tube thoracostomy vs aspiration for pneumothorax
- Aspiration is associated with shorter length of hospital stay
- HOWEVER, if aspiration fails then tube thoracostomy is indicated
Therefore, aspiration is first-line, thoracostomy is second line
Spontaneous pneumothorax is unlikely to progress to ___
Spontaneous pneumothorax is unlikely to progress to tension pneumothorax
Current lung cancer screening guidelines
- Screen with low-dose CT scan
- Eligibility:
- > 20 pack year smoking history
- Current smoker or < 15 years since quit
- Age 55 - 80
- Frequency:
- Every year
CT protocol for evaluating solitary pulmonary nodule
Should include full view of the chest and the upper abdomen to the adrenals
Adrenal cancer and liver cancer commonly metastasize to the lung
Technical definition of “solitary pulmonary nodule”
- < 3 cm in maximal diameter on radiographic imaging
- < 1 cm for “small solitary pulmonary nodule”
- At least moderately well-marginated
- Roughly round in shape
Second leading cause of lung cancer in the US
radon
Staging of lung cancer
PET-CT
Lung adenocarcinoma
- Most common lung cancer
- Also occurs in non-smokers (only LC that does this)
- Peripherally placed within lung parenchyma
- Metastasize earlier than squamous cell carcinomas, but not at time of diagnosis like small cell carcinomas
- Often metastasize to CNS
Lung squamous cell carcinoma
- Tend to be more centrally located in the lungs
- More likely to undergo necrosis and cause compression of airways
Small cell lung cancer
- Highly smoking associated
- Presumed metastatic at time of diagnosis
- Has a diffuse “cloudy” pattern on CXR rather than discrete nodules
- Often involves mediastinal lymph nodes at time of diagnosis
Common lung cancer metastasis sites
Hilum/mediastinum
Brain
Adrenals
Bones
A new lung nodule in a smoker has a ___ chance of being cancerous
A new lung nodule in a smoker has a 70% chance of being cancerous