Oncology

Question 1

Pulmonary Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Answer 1

Centrally located, strong link with smoking

Hilar mass, cavitation common

May produce PTHrP → hypercalcemia

“S” for Central and Smoking:

Squamous & Small Cell = Central, Smokers

Question 2

Pulmonary Small Cell (Oat Cell) Carcinoma

Answer 2

Centrally located, aggressive, paraneoplastic syndromes

ACTH → Cushing syndrome

SIADH → hyponatremia

Lambert-Eaton syndrome

Always considered inoperable — treat with chemo

Always think of paraneoplastic syndromes with small cell and squamous cell

Question 3

Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma

Answer 3

Peripheral location, most common in non-smokers and females

May present with clubbing, bronchioalveolar subtype may mimic pneumonia

Most common overall type of lung cancer

Question 4

Pulmonary Large Cell Carcinoma

Answer 4

Peripheral, poorly differentiated

Highly anaplastic, poor prognosis

May produce β-hCG

Peripheral tumors tend to form solid masses, while central ones often involve the bronchi.