Respiratory Flashcards
(268 cards)
how can lung cancer be classified histologically? what % of total lung cancers are each of them?
- non-small cell lung cancer, 80%
- small cell lung cancer (SCLC), 20%
2 types of non-small cell lung cancer?
- squamous cell carcinoma
- adenocarcinoma (more likely in a non-smoker)
which type of lung cancer can give rise to paraneoplastic syndromes? how?
- SCLC
- the cells have granules which secrete neuroendocrine hormones
presentation of lung cancer?
- SOB
- cough, haemoptysis
- finger clubbing
- recurrent pneumonia
- weight loss
- lymphadenopathy
which lymph nodes are enlarged first typically in lung cancer?
supraclavicular ones
first line investigation in lung cancer? what are the findings?
- CXR
- hilar enlargement
- peripheral opacity
- pleural effusion, usually unilateral
- collapse
investigations in lung cancer?
- CXR
- CT chest, abdomen and pelvis to stage
- PET-CT
- bronchoscopy with endobrachial ultrasound (EBUS)
- biopsy and histology
when is surgical management used in lung cancer? what types are there?
- non-SCLC isolated in one area
- lobectomy
- segmentectomy (wedge resection)
- often done with adjuvant chemotherapy
management of SCLC? prognosis?
- chemotherapy
- radiotherapy
- typically worse prognosis than non-SCLC
palliative treatment options for lung cancer?
- palliative chemotherapy
- endobrachial stenting
- endobrachial debulking
complications of lung cancer relating to compression and hormone secretion?
compression:
- recurrent laryngeal palsy
- phrenic nerve palsy
- SVCO
- horner’s syndrome
hormonal:
- SIADH
- cushing’s syndrome
- hypercalcaemia
- limbic encephalitis
- lambert-eaton myasthenic syndrome
how can lung cancer cause nerve palsy? which nerves are commonly affected?
- tumour compresses them
- recurrent laryngeal nerve
- phrenic nerve
presentation of SVC obstruction?
- facial swelling
- difficulty breathing
- distended veins in neck and upper chest
- pemberton’s sign
what is pemberton’s sign? is it significant?
- raising the hands over the head causes facial congestion and cyanosis
- medical emergency!
how can lung cancer cause horner’s syndrome?
pancoast tumour compressing the sympathetic ganglion
presentation of horner’s syndrome?
triad:
- partial ptosis
- anhidrosis
- miosis
what is a pancoast’s tumour?
tumour in the apex of the lung
how can lung cancer cause SIADH? key finding on bloods?
- SCLC tumour secreting ectopic ADH
- hyponatraemia
how can lung cancer cause cushing’s syndrome?
SCLC secreting ectopic ACTH
how can lung cancer cause hypercalcaemia?
squamous cell carcinoma (non-SCLC) secreting ectopic PTH
describe limbic encephalitis
- paraneoplastic syndrome caused by SCLC
- immune reaction to the limbic system
- anti-Hu antibodies
- causes: memory impairment, hallucinations, confusion, seizures
pathophysiology of lambert-eaton myasthenic syndrome?
antibodies created against SCLC cells but which also happen to attack voltage-gated Ca channels in motor neurones
presentation of lambert-eaton myasthenic syndrome?
- proximal muscle weakness, worse with prolonged use
- diplopia
- ptosis
- slurred speech
- dysphagia
top differential for lambert-eaton myasthenic syndrome?
- myasthenia gravis
- onset is more insidious and symptoms less pronounced in lambert-eaton