Pathology Lung cancer Flashcards
What are the types of cancer? (general terms)
- Benign (rare)
- Malignant (v common)
- Metastatic (v common)
Biggest risk factor of lung cancer?
smokin
Other important risk factors?
- Asbestos
- Radiation
- Nickel
What are the local effects of lung cancer?
- Distal areas of the lung to the tumour get consolidated.
Can invade chest wall. Can cause ulceration.
Common areas of metastasis?
- Lymph nodes
- Brain
- Bones
- Liver
- Skin
- Adrenal
Systemic effect of lung cancer
- Weight loss
- Ectopic hormone production:
1. PTH- Squamous
2. ACTH- Small cell
4 Common types of lung cancer?
- Adenocarcinoma
- Squamous
- Small cell
- Large cell
Non common lung cancer types
- Neuroendocrine
- Bronchial gland
What histological tests diagnose lung cancer?
- Bronchoscopy- tube fed through trachea. Detects any tumour mass
- Tissue biopsy- tests tumour for type of cancer
What is used to determine squamous carcinoma?
Keratinising. Squamous cells will be + to tests that detect keratin.
Which cancer type has the worst outcome?
Small cancer
Most common type?
Adenocarcinoma
Most common types of treatment?
- Surgery (not poss in small cell)
- Chemo
- Radiotherapy
How can immunochemistry help with diagnosing the type of lung cancer?
DONT NEED TO MEMORISE
Immunochemistry detect specific chemicals found in the sample eg
- TTF 1 found in adenocarcinoma
- Nuclear antigen P63 found in SCLC
What is carcinoma in situ?
Cancer in situ- confined to its original site, not metastasised
Carcinoma in situ- cancer in situ that has spread to the epithelium of the area.
