Bronchial carcinoma Flashcards
1
Q
How common is a bronchial carcinoma?
A
95% of primary lung tumours
Most common malignant tumour in the Western World
3rd most common cause of death in the UK
2
Q
What is the pathology of bronchial carcinoma?
A
- Divided into small cell and non small cell cancer
- Non small cell:
- Squamous
- Large cell
- Poorly differentiated
- Metastasize easily
- Adenocarcinoma
- Asbestos exposure
- More common in non smokers
- Small cell:
- Arises from endocrine cells and secretes hormones
- Poor prognosis
- Metastasis most commonly spreads to bone and brain
3
Q
What are the risk factors/aetiology of bronchial carcinoma?
A
- Male
- Smoking – inc. passive smoking
- Exposure to asbestos
- Contact with arsenic, chromium, iron oxides and products of coal combustion
4
Q
What are the signs/symptoms of bronchial carcinoma?
A
- Cough
- Chest pain
- Haemoptysis
- Breathlessness
- Pleuritic pain
- Pain in the shoulder and inner arm (Pancoast’s tumour)
- Bone fractures
- Horner’s syndrome – spread to the sympathetic ganglion
- Hoarseness of voice
- Bovine cough (sounds like you’re breathing out air really fast)
- Finger clubbing
- Malaise
- Lethargy
- Weight loss
5
Q
What investigations are conduced for suspected bronchial carcinoma?
A
- CXR
- Round shadow who’s edge shows a fluffy/spiked appearance
- Sputum cytology
- Bronchoscopy
- Transthoracic fine needle aspiration biopsy
- CT
- PET scan
6
Q
What are the surgical treatments for bronchial carcinoma?
A
- Lobectomy
- Endoscopic laser therapy
- Transbronchial stenting
- Aspiration of pleural effusions
7
Q
What are the pharmacological treatments for bronchial carcinoma?
A
- Chemotherapy
- Radiotherapy – can be for palliative care also
- Analgesia
- Prednisolone – improves appetite
8
Q
What are the non pharmacological treatments for bronchial carcinoma?
A
Counselling
