Pathology of Lung Neoplasia Flashcards
What are the three main causes of lung cancer
- tobacco
- asbestos
- environmental radon
Name two of the carcinogens found in cigarettes and the lung cancers they can cause
- polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons cause squamous cell carcinoma
- N-nitrosamines cause adenocarcinomas
How does tobacco smoke give rise to lung cancer
- epithelial effects
- multi-hit theory of carcinogenesis
- activates procarcinogens
What can inherited polymorphisms predispose in relation to lung cancer
- metabolism of procarcinogens
- nicotine addiction
What type of epithelial stem cells transform in cancer of the lung periphery and what type of cancer does this cause
- bronchoalveolar
- adenocarcinoma
What type of epithelial stem cells transform in cancer of the central lung airways and what type of cancer does this cause
- bronchial
- squamous cell carcinoma
Give two genes in which mutations can cause lung cancer
- KRAS (smoking induced)
- EGFR (not induced by smoking)
What are the different types of lung tumour
- benign causes of mass lesion
- carcinoid tumour (neuroendocrine tumour)
- bronchial gland tumours
- lymphoma
- sarcoma (connective tissue tumour)
- metastases
What are the local effect of lung cancer
- bronchial obstruction
- pleural complications
- direct invasion
- lymph node metastases
What can bronchial obstruction cause
- bronchial collapse
- endogenous lipid pneumonia (mucus trapped)
- infection/abscess
- bronchiectasis
What are the two types of pleural complication that can arise from lung cancer
- inflammatory
- malignant (worse prognosis)
What are the problems that nerve invasion of lung cancer can have
- phrenic nerves = diaphragmatic paralysis
- brachial plexus = neurological symptoms
- cervical sympathetic chain = Horner’s syndrome
What are the symptoms of Horner’s syndrome
- small unilateral pupil
- unilateral eyelid lad
- no sweating unilaterally
What are common sites of lung cancer metastasis
- liver
- brain
- bone
- skin
- adrenals
Give some examples of non-metastatic effects of lung cancer
- finger clubbing
- endocrine (ACTH/ADH/PTH production)
