lung cancer Flashcards
(25 cards)
outline the aetiology for lung cancer
inhalation of carcinogens e.g. smoking, asbestos exposure or pollution
what proportion of lung cancers can be linked to smoking
80-90%
what are the 2 main classifications for types of lung cancer
small cell and non small cell
what lung cancer has the worst prognosis
small cell lung cancer
what is the most rapidly progressive lung cancer
small cell lung cancer
what is the most common lung cancer in non smokers
adenocarcinoma
which lung cancer is most commonly linked with asbestos exposure
adenocarcinoma
what is the most common lung cancer type in smokers
squamous cell carcinoma
which lung cancers have a central tumour
small cell lung cancer
squamous cell carcinoma
what lung cancer types have a peripheral tumour
large cell carcinoma
adenocarcinoma
large cell carcinoma has the second worst prognosis. true or false?
true
has early mets
where are the most common sites of mets from a primary lung cancer
brain
liver
bone
adrenal glands
skin
what are the general symptoms of a lung cancer
cough for 3+ weeks
dyspnoea (airway obstruction)
haemoptysis (erosion of a blood vessel by the tumour
chest or shoulder pain (initially visceral, becomes pleural if pleural invasion)
unexplained weight loss
unexplained tiredness/ lethargy
what are the clinical signs of a lung cancer
stridor
clubbing
hepatomegaly
lymphadenopathy
tracheal deviation
recurrent pneumonia
if involvement of the pleura - stony dull percussion and pleural rub
why do some lung cancers cause recurrent pneumonia
tumours which block the bronchi can stop the mucociliary escalator from functioning properly
secretions and bacteria are not cleared
what are the investigations done initially in suspected lung cancer
bloods: FBC, coagulation screen, U+Es
CXR
what result form U+Es can be indicative of malignancy
hyponatraemia
hypercalcaemia
if a potentially malignant mass is seen on CXR, what are the further investigations that could be used?
biopsy
CT thorax - used to stage and see mets
PET scan - assess for mets
USS - ?pleural effusion, movement of diaphragm and subphrenic abscess
what are the management options for lung cancer
palliative: chemo/radiotherapy, stenting where tumours are causing dyspnoea from airway obstruction, analgesia and antimetics
non palliative: targeted treatments - based on tumour specific markers for a patient specific regimen
what are the symptoms of SVC mets/ obstruction
puffy eyelids
headache
distention of the jugular veins/ visible anastomoses of veins on the chest
what are the symptoms associated with oesophageal mets/ obstruction
dysphagia
what are the symptoms associated with recurrent laryngeal nerve compression
hoarseness
what is a pancoast’s tumour
tumour in the lung apex that infiltrates on the brachial plexus causing Horner’s syndrome
what is Horner’s syndrome? What can it be caused by? What are the symptoms?
damage of the sympathetic trunk
can be caused by a Pancoast’s tumour
symptoms:
miosis (constriction of the pupil unilaterally)
ptosis (upper eyelid droops causing a partially closed eye)
anhidrosis (decreased sweating on the affected side of the face)
enophthalmos (eyeball appears sunken)
