Management of Lung Cancer Flashcards
How many lung cancer patients will be offered possibly curative treatment?
22%
What are the risk factors for lung cancer?
Smoking Air pollution Nickel, chromium Radiation (radon) Asbestos- if smoker, risk increased 50 fold Family history
Describe the casual link between tobacco smoke and lung cancer
- x20 risk compared to non-smokers
- Passive exposure associated with higher risk of lung cancer
- 10% occurs in never-smokers
- Genetic component suggested by increased risk in those with family history
Describe screening lung cancer
Lung cancer presents late and early stage lung cancer has best outcome
Screening aims to identify lung caner at early stage
How do we screen for lung cancer?
CXR/ sputum cytology as screening no effect on mortality
Several trials have shown screening with LD CT can detect early stage lung cancer
RCT trails of LD CT conducted- primary outcome reduced mortality but false positives
What are the clinical features of lung cancer?
- Cough
- Haemoptysis
- Dyspnoea
- Chest/ shoulder pain
- Wheeze/stridor
- Hoarse voice
- SVC obstruction
- Lymphadenopathy
- Bone pain
- Paraneoplastic syndromes
Describe the histology of lung cancer
Adenocarcinoma= 40%
Squamous cell carcinoma= 30%
Large cell carcinoma= 15%
Small cell= 15%
What does a tumour secrete as it grows?
Tumour angiogenesis factors (TAF) which cause blood vessels to grow into the mass of tumour cells. This allows a tumour to grow more rapidly and increase in size.
What is the process by which squamous cell carcinomas frequently develop into necrotic masses?
If the tumour grows too large for its blood supply then the central areas can become deprived of oxygen and nutrients and will undergo necrosis, they die.growth and spread.
How can TAF be targeted in treatment?
possibility of suppressing or counteracting the effect of TAF in the hope that restricting the flow of blood to a tumour will restrict
How do adenocarcinomas arise?
peripherally from mucous glands and the cells retain some of the tubular, acinar or papillary differentiation and mucus production. Adenocarcinoma commonly arises around scar tissue and is also associated with asbestos exposure.
What do adenocarcinomas invade?
They commonly invade pleura and mediastinal lymph nodes and often metastasise to the brain and bones. They bear similarity to secondary tumours and must be distinguished by CT scans and other investigations to check for presence of a primary.
Which form of adenocarcinoma is often distinguished from others?
bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma, these characteristically have well differentiated ‘bland’ cells which grow along alveolar ducts. Adenocarcinomas are proportionally less common in non-smokers.
How do we stage lung cancer?
TNM= Tumour, Node, Metastasis
PET CT/ Mediastinal Lymph Node Staging (EBUS/ EUS)
What does Tx mean?
Tumour in sputum/ bronchial washings but not be assessed in imaging or bronchoscopy