PULMONARY Neoplastic Flashcards
Bronchial Carcinoid
Bronchial carcinoid tumors are classified as neuroendocrine neoplasms of the lung. They arise in the bronchial and bronchiolar epithelium and may derive from existing Kulchitsky cells, neuroepithelial bodies, or pluripotential bronchial epithelial stem cells
SYMPTOMS: Cough, which can sometimes be bloody.
Wheezing.
Shortness of breath.
Chest pain, especially when taking deep breaths.
CAUSE: The cause of lung carcinoid tumors is still unclear. They don’t seem to be related to smoking, air pollutants or other chemicals. However, there are factors that may put some people at an increased risk. Lung carcinoids are more likely to develop in whites than in people of other races.
Lung Adenocarcinoma
The most common type of lung cancer in the United States and usually begins along the outer sections of the lungs. It is also the most common type of lung cancer in people who have never smoked. Large cell carcinomas are a group of cancers with large, abnormal-looking cells.
SYMPTOMS: A cough that does not go away or gets worse
Coughing up blood or red phlegm
Difficulty breathing
Chest pain, which can be worsened by deep breathing, coughing, or laughing
Hoarseness when speaking
Recurring lung infections, like bronchitis or pneumonia
Wheezing without history of asthma
Unexplained weight loss
Loss of appetite
Feeling tired or weak
CAUSE: Adenocarcinomas start in the cells that would normally secrete substances such as mucus. This type of lung cancer occurs mainly in people who currently smoke or formerly smoked, but it is also the most common type of lung cancer seen in people who don’t smoke.
Mesothelioma
A type of cancer that occurs in the thin layer of tissue that covers the majority of your internal organs (mesothelium). Mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly form of cancer.
SYMPTOMS: chest pain.
shortness of breath.
fatigue (extreme tiredness)
a high temperature and sweating, particularly at night.
a persistent cough.
loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss.
clubbed (swollen) fingertips.
CAUSE: Asbestos exposure is the primary risk factor for mesothelioma. It accounts for up to 80 percent of all cases. Living with someone who works with asbestos may also increase an individual’s risk for developing mesothelioma because asbestos particles can travel on skin and clothing.
Non-Small Cell Carcinoma
NSCLC is any type of epithelial lung cancer other than small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The most common types of NSCLC are squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma, but there are several other types that occur less frequently, and all types can occur in unusual histologic variants
SYMPTOMS: Chest discomfort or pain.
A cough that doesn’t go away or gets worse over time.
Trouble breathing.
Wheezing.
Blood in sputum (mucus coughed up from the lungs).
Hoarseness.
Loss of appetite.
Weight loss for no known reason.
CAUSE: Smoking causes most cases (around 90%) of non-small cell lung cancer. The risk depends on the number of cigarettes you smoke each day and for how long you have smoked. Being around the smoke from other people (secondhand smoke) also raises your risk of lung cancer.
Pancoast Tumor
A rare form of lung cancer. This type of tumor is located at the very top (apex) of the right or left lung. As the tumor grows, it can invade surrounding nerves, muscles, lymph nodes, connective tissue, upper ribs, and upper vertebrae. This causes severe pain in the shoulder and arm.
SYMPTOMS: Swelling in the upper arm.
Chest tightness.
Weakness or loss of coordination in the hand muscles.
Numbness or tingling sensations in the hand.
Loss of muscle tissue in the arm or hand.
Fatigue.
Horner’s syndrome
CAUSE: smoking. exposure to secondary smoke. long-term exposure to heavy metals, chemicals, or diesel exhaust. long-term exposure to asbestos or high levels of radon.
Small Cell Carcinoma
Also called oat cell carcinoma, can create its own hormones, which alter body chemistry. Squamous cell carcinoma commonly starts in the bronchi and may not spread as rapidly as other lung cancers. Secondhand smoke has been classified as a known cause of lung cancer in humans (Group A carcinogen).
SYMPTOMS: Chest discomfort or pain.
A cough that doesn’t go away or gets worse over time.
Trouble breathing.
Wheezing.
Blood in sputum (mucus coughed up from the lungs).
Hoarseness.
Trouble swallowing.
Loss of appetite.
CAUSE: Tobacco smoking is by far the leading cause of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Most small cell lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke. Smoking is clearly the strongest risk factor for lung cancer, but it often interacts with other factors. It’s rare for someone who has never smoked to be diagnosed with small cell lung cancer (SCLC), but it can happen. Lung cancer in people who don’t smoke can be caused by exposure to radon, secondhand smoke, air pollution, or other factors.
