Thoracic Neoplasms Flashcards
Mediastinum
Anatomic space located between the lungs
Anterior mediastinum borders
Sternum to anterior aspect of the heart
Anterior mediastinum contents
Thymus
Internal mammary arteries
Lymph nodes
MC etiologies of anterior mediastinal masses
Thymoma
Teratoma
Thyroid/parathyroid
Middle mediastinal borders
Anterior aspect of the heart to the posterior aspect of the heart
Contents of middle mediastinum
Heart
Great vessels
Trachea
MC etiologies of middle mediastinal masses
Granulomatous or metastatic lymphadenopathy
Posterior mediastinum borders
Everything posterior to the heart
Contents of posterior mediastinum
Esophagus
Thoracic duct
Sympathetic chain
Spine
Descending thoracic aorta
MC etiologies of posterior mediastinal masses
Neurogenic tumors
Meningocele
Esophageal diverticula
Hiatal hernia
50% of mediastinal masses are found ___
Incidentally
Clinical presentation of mediastinal mass
Symptoms related to the structures that are compressed by the mass
Constitutional symptoms if malignant
Effects of compression of the lungs, esophagus, vascular, heart and sympathetic chain
Lungs: hoarseness
Esophagus: dysphagia
Vascular: facial or extremity swelling
Heart: hypotension
Sympathetic chain: Horner’s syndrome
Initial imaging of a mediastinal mass
CXR
If the CXR is inconclusive, what is the follow-up imaging for mediastinal mass?
Chest CT with IV contrast
If the patient complains of difficulty swallowing due to mediastinal mass, what test could be run?
Barium swallow
If there is a suspected malignancy of mediastinal mass, what test should be run first?
PET scan
PET scan
Shows metabolic activity
Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies are elevated in ___ tumors
Thymic
Alpha fetoprotein and beta HCG are elevated in ___ tumors
Germ cell
LDH is elevated in ___ tumors
Seminomas and lymphoma
Referral for mediastinal masses
Cardiothoracic or general surgery
Indications for percutaneous biopsy of mediastinal mass
If it is near the periphery of the chest
Percutaneous biopsy
Uses CT guidance for exact location of biopsy
Indications for endobronchial biopsy
If mediastinal mass is located immediately adjacent to an airway
Indications for mediastinoscopy biopsy
If they are also planning to resect the tumor at that time
Characteristics of a solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN)
Less than 3cm
Isolated and round opacity
Surrounded by normal lung
Not associated with infiltrate, atelectasis, or adenopathy
T/F most SPN are malignant
F - most are benign
Benign causes of SPN
Infectious granulomas
Hamartomas
Pulmonary AV malformation
MC organisms that cause infectious granuloma SPN
Endemic fungi
Mycobacteria
Appearance of infectious granuloma SPN
Well-demarcated, fully calcified, or centrally calcified
Presentation of hamartoma
Heterogenous
CXR: popcorn
CT: areas of fat
Pulmonary AV malformation
Tangle of connecting arteries and veins causing a hard time for blood to move through
Should you biopsy pulmonary AV malformations?
No - there is a bleeding risk
Malignant causes of an SPN
Primary lung cancer
Lung metastasis
Carcinoid tumors
Most pulmonary metastases present as ___
Multiple nodes
Risk factors for malignancy in SPN
Smoking
Age
Family History
Female sex
Emphysema
Previous malignancy
Asbestos exposure
You should repeat CXR prior to ordering CT if ___
Suspected nodule is likely a nipple shadow
Evidence of infection
Nodule characteristics are pathognomonic for benign lesion
Imaging modality of choice for SPN
CT chest w/o contrast
CT imaging helps to assess malignancy risk factors such as ___
Size
Location
Attenuation
Calcification
___ nodules have a higher malignancy rate
Larger
Nodules found in the ___ have an increased risk of being malignant
Upper lobe
(Solid/subsolid) nodules are more likely to be malignant
Subsolid
Types of subsolid nodules
Ground glass nodules
Part-solid nodules
Shape of nodules that are more likely to be malignant
Ill-defined, lobular, spiculated, and peripheral halo
Benign lesions have smooth, well-defined borders
Growth of SPN
More likely to see growth on malignant tumors
Benign tumors are likely stable
Calcification patterns of SPN
Benign: diffuse, central, popcorn, laminated
Malignant: stippled and eccentric
If the nodule is over 3cm, then it is already classified as ___ risk
High
If the nodule is under 3cm, how do you determine risk?
Risk calculator
Risk calculator for determining malignancy probability
Low: less than 5%
Intermediate: 5-60%
High: over 60%
Management of low probability SPN
Watchful waiting with serial CT scans
Management of high probability SPN
Surgical resection and staging