Lung Cancer Flashcards
1
Q
Features of lung cancer
A
- persistent cough
- haemoptysis
- dyspnoea
- chest pain
- weight loss and anorexia
- hoarseness
- seen with Pancoast tumours pressing on the recurrent laryngeal nerve
- Pancoast tumours can compress the recurrent laryngeal nerve causing a hoarseness of voice and this would be diagnosed with a CT scan of the chest.
- superior vena cava syndrome
2
Q
CXR: lung cancer?
A
- this is often the first investigation done in patients with suspected lung cancer
- inaround 10% of patients subsequently diagnosed with lung cancer the chest x-ray was reported as normal
3
Q
CT scan: lung cancer?
A
is the investigation of choice to investigate suspected lung cancer
contrast-enhanced CT scan the best
4
Q
Bronchoscopy: lung cancer
A
this allows a biopsy to be taken to obtain a histological diagnosis sometimes aided by endobronchial ultrasound
5
Q
PET scanning: lung cancer?
A
- is typically done in non-small cell lung cancer to establish eligibility for curative treatment
- uses 18-fluorodeoxygenase which is preferentially taken up by neoplastic tissue
- has been shown to improve diagnostic sensitivity of both local and distant metastasis spread in non-small cell lung cancer
6
Q
Bloods: lung cancer
A
raised platelets may be seen
7
Q
CIs to lung cancer surgery?
A
- assess general health
- stage IIIb or IV (i.e. metastases present)
- FEV1 < 1.5 litres is considered a general cut-off point
- malignant pleural effusion
- tumour near hilum
- vocal cord paralysis
- SVC obstruction
8
Q
Small cell lung cancer features?
A
Small cell lung carcinoma secreting ACTH can cause Cushing’s syndrome
Lambert-Eaton syndrome
ADH
9
Q
Squamous cell carcinoma features?
A
Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTH-rp) secretion causing hypercalcaemia
- clubbing
- hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy (HPOA)
- hyperthyroidism due to ectopic tSH
10
Q
Adenocarcinoma features?
A
- gynaecomastia
- hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy (HPOA
