Tumours of the lung and pleura Flashcards
How does a primary lung tumour appear on CXR or CT?
irregular mass that can be confused with an abscess
How do you biospy central tumours vs peripheral tumours?
Central tumours are biospsied with bronchoscopy
Periphal tumours are biospsied through CT guided fine needle aspiration or wide bore needle core biopsy
Why are secondary tumours in the lung common?
As it is highly vascularised
What is the definition of squamous cell carcinoma?
lung tumour showing keratin formation and intracellular bridges
How can the degree of differentiation of squamous cell tumours be determined?
Poorly differentiated cells have very little keratin and have abnormal cells
What are adenocarcinomas?
malignant epithelial neoplasms that show mucin production of formation of glandular lumina
How can the degree of differentiation of adenocarcinomas be determined?
Well differentiated tumours produce lots of mucin and have abundant lumina
What do lung adenocarcinomas produce that is a good indicator they are lung primary tumours?
Thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1)
Which tumours fall into non small cell carcinoma and how are they treated?
Adenocarcinomas, squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma. All treated similarly through resection or failing that radiotherapy or failing that chemotherapy
What are small cell carcinomas?
Poorly differentiated tumours that are highly malignant and are made up of small primitive neuroendocrine cells
What is a carcinoid tumour?
well differntiated low grade neoplasm of cells that shows neuroendocrine differentiation
What are some common peptides with hormone like activity that are secreted by lung tumours?
ADH, PTH and cortisol like substances
What are the different nodal stages for TNM staging?
N0 is no nodal involvement, N1 is involvement of nodes within or close to the affected lung, N2 is involvement of mediastinal or subcarinal nodes, and N3 is more distant spread
