radiology of lung cancer

Question 1

what should be though about when viewing the mediastinum on a chest x ray?

Answer 1

Hilar vascular structures should be crisply defined
No widening of mediastinum
Trachea should be central

Question 2

what should be though about when viewing the lungs on a chest x ray?

Answer 2

Compare upper, mid and lower zones
Look between ribs for lung detail
Remember to look “behind” the heart

Question 3

you take a history from a patient, what will they most likely had for you to think they have lung cancer?

Answer 3

Increasing SOB in smoker,history of pulmonary fibrosis, recent haemoptyis

Question 4

whats the next step after x ray?

Answer 4

ct

Question 5

what will a CT scan tell you?

Answer 5

evaluate size, shape atelectasis, border, density ,solid or non solid, dynamic contrast enhancement >25 HU, growth

Question 6

what is pulmonary mass?

Answer 6

Pulmonary mass is an opacity in lung over 3cm with no mediastinal adenopathy or atelectasis

Question 7

what is pulmonary nodule?

Answer 7

Pulmonary nodule is an opacity in lung up to 3cm with no mediastinal adenopathy or atelectasis

Question 8

what questions should be asked in TNM staging?

Answer 8

How big it is and how far has it spread /Size and position of the tumour (T)
Whether cancer cells have spread into the lymph nodes (N)
Whether the tumour has spread anywhere else in the body ie metastases (M)

Question 9

what does a PET show?

Answer 9

performs whole body staging in a single study excluding cerebral disease
discloses metastases and other pathology not detected by other means
unexpected metastases in 10-20%
excludes metastases where structural imaging abnormal
Non invasive

Question 10

limitations of PET?

Answer 10

All tests have
False negative results
False positive results
Cost