Wk 8 - Terms; Diseases of the Lung Flashcards
What is the pathogenesis of SCLC?
Almost always develop in patients who smoke or recently smoked
What is the prognosis of SCLC?
exceptionally poor
Treatment for SCLC?
systemic treatment: chemotherapy and/or radiation
Risk factors for lung cancer?
-Smoking (most important factor - almost always case in SCLC)
-industrial hazards: radon, asbestos, etc.
-air. pollution
-radiation therapy
-genetic factors
-region of old pulmonary scars
What are the clinical features of SCLC?
a. Usually centrally located hilar or mediastinal tumours with rapid growth
b. Most small cell lung cancers have already metastasized to extra-pulmonary sites by the time they are diagnosed
What can be associated with SCLC?
Paraneoplastic syndromes
What are the three types of lung cancer?
Small Cell Lung Cancer
Non Small Cell Lung Cancer
(further divided into)
squamous cell carcinoma
adenocarcinoma
75% of adenocarcinomas are located where?
peripherally located
What is the most common lung cancer to occur in female patients?
adenocarcinoma
What is the most common lung cancer to occur in non-smoking patients?
adenocarcinoma
What are the clinical features of squamous cell carcinoma?
i. Usually centrally located tumours; tend to grow within lumen of bronchus causing airway obstruction
ii. May cavitate due to central necrosis
What is the most common lung cancer in male patient’s who smoke?
squamous cell carcinoma
What are the clinical presentations of lung cancer?
- 5% asymptomatic: routine chest x-ray (Mom’s)
- Local symptoms: cough, dyspnea, chest pain, hemoptysis
- Spread to adjacent thoracic structures:
o Hoarseness – recurrent laryngeal nerve compression
o Superior vena cava obstruction
o Horner’s syndrome – apical carcinoma/Pancoast tumour - Distant metastasis: brain, bone, adrenal gland, liver
- Non-specific symptoms: anorexia, fatigue, weight loss
- Paraneoplastic syndromes typically associated with SCLC
Define abscess
a localized collection of pus (i.e. an area of liquefactive necrosis in lung tissue).
Define acinus (acini)
in the lung the basic unit where gas exchange occurs; it includes respiratory bronchioles and its alveolar ducts and alveolar sacs; an acinus is supplied by a single terminal bronchiole
Define alveolus (alveoli)
literally means a small cell or cavity, it is the thin-walled sac-like terminal dilation of the acinus (respiratory bronchiole, alveolar ducts and alveolar sacs) across which gas transfer takes place across the alveolar-capillary membrane.
Define chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
a nonspecific term that describes conditions in which there is airway obstruction and an increased resistance to airflow (resulting in a decreased forced expiratory volume). Includes bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Define lung carcinoma
Four main subtypes: squamous cell carcinoma (25 - 40%), adenocarcinoma (25 - 40%), small cell undifferentiated carcinoma (20 - 25%), large cell undifferentiated carcinoma (10 - 15%). All are related to cigarette smoking; the leading cause of cancer deaths in Canadian men and women.