solid organ malignancy Flashcards
what tests can be be done on ascitic fluid in a patient suspected of cancer?
albumin cytology glucose LDH microscopy, culture, sensitivity pH
how can you tell that a distended abdomen is due to ascites?
everted umbilicus in a normally inverted one
in a patient that presents with confusion, what serum investigation do you want to do?
calcium BM LFTs U&Es FBC
difference between corrected calcium and ionised calcium and total calcium?
calcium binds to albumin in the blood. depending on albumin levels, measured calcium can be interpreted wrongly. always interprete corrected calcium as that accounts for albumin levels
what should be done for hypercalcaemia?
hydration IV saline
bisphoshonates
haloperidol can be used as an anti-emetic, t or f
t
how to find out normal range of ESR based on age?
(age + (10 if female))/2
what type of cancers would raised AFP and Beta HCG suggest?
germ cell cancer
what would MCV be in iron deficiency anaemia?
microcytic
what kind of MCV anaemia would u get in chronic gi bleed
microcytic anaemia
what types of screening programs are there in UK, and the ages
cervical - 25
breast - 50
colon - 60
what causes transudates
organ failure - heart, liver, kidney
what causes exudates
infection, inflammation, cancer
what is a carcinoma of unknown primary?
when cancer presents with symptoms from mets, before primary site is found
difference between carcinoma of unknown primary and primary tumours
early dissemination
more aggressive
unpredictable metastatic pattern
absence of symptoms from primary tumour
4 classifications of carcinoma of unknown primary by cytology
adenocarcinoma - well differentiated
adenocarcinoma - poor/undifferentiated
squamous cell carcioma
undifferentiated carcinoma
most common cytology of carcinoma of unknown primary
well-moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma
approach to carcinoma of unknown primary?
find primary
exclude curable cancers
characterise specific aetiology of symptoms
decide treatment aim - curative or palliative
where do carcinoma of unknown primary present commonly?
screening, of if over 75 years old, 40% present at A&E
symptoms of carcinoma of unknown primary
symptoms localised to mets, lumps, mass, obstruction, ulceration,
systemic symps - weight loss, fatigue, fever, paraneoplastic effects
common endocrine paraneoplastic effects of carcinoma of unknown primary
cushings due to ACTH
SIADH due to vasopressin
hypercalcaemia due to PTHrP
how to investigate carcinoma of unknown primary (standard)
full exam incld breast, rectal, pelvic, head/neck
FBC, biochem, LFTs, calcium, urinalysis, FOB
CXR, other Xrays
CT thorax, abdomen, pelvis
specialised tests in investigating carcinoma of unknown primary
endoscopes
biopsies
cancer markers
whole body PET-CT
what can immunohistochemistry identify in investigating carcinoma of unknown primary
neuroendocrine tumours lymphomas germ cell tumours melanomas sarcomas embryonal malignancies
how can cancers spread
locally
distanty thru blood, lymph, transcoelomic
common site of mets
lymph nodes
lung
bone
liver
which lymph nodes will thoracic cancers commonly spread to
supraclavicular and axilliary
which cancers more associated with spread to inguinal and femoral LNs
uterine, cervical, vulva, vagina
what is the median survival of CUP
6-9 months
what features indicate poorer prognostic
lymph node mets
more mets
males worse than female
performance status
what is the approach to treatment in CUP
treat for palliation, reducing symptoms, improving QOL. stop when no longer benefiting
what is the sequence of spread of lung cancer
circumferentially within lobe, along bronchus
lymphatic
haematogenous
what is the order of lymphatic spread in lung cancer
ipsilateral peribronchial hilar mediastinal contralateral hilar supraclavicular
what are the common haematogenous spread sites in lung cancer
bone
liver
brain
cytological classifications of lung cancer
small cell lung cancer adenocarcinoma squamous cell carcinoma large cell malignant mesothelioma adenocarcinoma in situ
what many % of lung cancers are small cell lung cancers
20%
where do SCLCs tend to be located?
large airways, proximal location
how do SCLCs tend to present
systemic symptoms
what kind of mets are SCLCs prone to
haematogenous routes - liver, bone, brain, adrenal glands
which kind of lung cancer is more prone to endocrine paraneoplastic syndromes
small cell
what types of lung cancer is smoking most associated with
squamous cell and SCLC
a lung cancer exhibiting cavitation and air fluid level on a CXR is most likely to be what kind of cancer?
squamous cell
what is the growth pattern of sqamous cell carcinoma like?
slow, local spread, late mets
adenocarcinomas are associated with smoking - T or F
F
what kind of cells do adenocarcinomas come from?
bronchial mucosal glands
where do adenocarcinomas tend to be located
periphery
where do adenocarcinomas tend to metastasise to first?
lymph nodes
what are the risk factors of lung cancer
smoking
family history
chemical exposure - asbestos, metals, formaldehyde
clinical features of lung cancer due to local spread
cough haemoptysis breathlessness finger clubbing recurrent chest infection
hoarseness
dysphagia
SVCO
Horner’s syndrome
how does superior vena cava obstruction present
swelling of face and neck
venous distension over upper thorax
breathlessness
what are other causes of SVCO other than malignancy
thrombosis
clinical features of lung cancer due to distant spread
bone metastasis
liver failure + liver symptoms
brain mets
leptomeningeal mets
what finger signs to look out for in suspected lung cancer
tar staining
finger clubbing
how can brain mets present
headaches
seizures
neurological deficits
cognitive dysfunction
what are some paraneoplastic syndromes seen in lung cancer
ACTH - cushings
PTHrP - hypercalcaemia
SIADH - ADH
dermatomyositis, acanthosis nigricans
how does dermatomyositis look like?
rash
systemic features of inflammation
what does a non-pulsatile JVP with facial swelling and venous distension indicate?
SVCO
what CXR signs can be seen in lung cancer?
pneumonia - consolidation
pleural effusion
pulmonary collapse
how to investigate lung cancer
bedside - full body examination including lymph nodes
bloods - FBC, LFTs, ABG, calcium, U&Es
imaging - CXR, CT chest/abdo, MRI, V/Q
specialised tests - LDH, tumour markers, biopsy, lymph node sampling, pleural tap + cytology, PET/CT
how to stage lung cancer?
PET CT
what is LDH a marker of?
cell necrosis, raised in cancer
what kind of cancer will commonly show on CXR - large peripheral mass?
large cell
what kind of cancer will commonly show on CXR - central mass with hilar or mediastinal lymphadenopathy
small cell
what radiological findings can be seen in adenocarcinoma?
peripheral mass, solitary nodule, pleural effusion
what kind of lung cancers tend to be more centrall located?
small cell
squamous cell
what kind of lung cancers tend to be more peripherally located
adenocarcinoma
large cell
why is staging done when investigating lung cancer?
to determine spread, prognosis and intent of treatment
why would a cancer patient present with constipation, confusion and renal failure?
possibly hypercalcaemia. due to PTHrP endocrine paraneoplastic syndrome
treatment for hypercalcaemia?
rehydration IV saline
bisphosphonates
a known cancer patient presents with thirst, polyuria and confusion. what might be going on and how to find out?
hypercalcaemia
SIADH - hyponatraemia
U&Es and calcium test.
how can cancer cause neurological symptoms?
brain mets
spinal cord compression
bilateral upper motor neurone signs is until proven otherwise?
spinal cord compression
symptoms of spinal cord compression?
vertebral pain
sensory or motor changes below level of compression
sphincter dysfunction
cauda equina symptoms
where is spinal cord compression due to malignancy most likely?
thoracic spine
investigation for suspected spinal cord compression?
urgent MRI
how does magnesium affect calcium levels?
low magnesium causes hypocalcaemia due to inhibition of PTH.
what are some complications of cancer treatment?
neutropenic sepsis
tumour lysis syndrome
what is neutropenic sepsis?
fever or sepsis with neutropenia (<0.5 x 10^9/L)