Flashcards on Lung Cancer: Overview, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Lung Cancer: Overview, Diagnosis, & Treatment Guide
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Lung cancer
50 cards
Card 1
Question: What are the two main pathological subtypes of lung carcinoma and their proportion of all cases?
Answer: Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (SCLC) – 25%; Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (NSCLC) – 75% (includes squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, large cell carc
Card 2
Question: According to the text, what are the main risk factors that increase the risk of developing lung cancer?
Answer: Smoking (over 85% of cases, related to pack-years), asbestos exposure (synergistic effect with smoking), radon, and chronic obstructive pulmonary dise
Card 3
Question: What is the relationship between age and the likelihood of a solitary pulmonary nodule being malignant?
Answer: Older age increases the probability of malignancy; in patients over 50 years old, there is more than a 50% chance of the nodule being malignant.
Card 4
Question: Which radiological examination is the test of choice when lung cancer is suspected?
Answer: Chest CT is the first-line examination.
Card 5
Question: What are the characteristics of a solitary pulmonary nodule that are more indicative of a benign nature?
Answer: Small size (<1 cm), smooth, well-defined margins, dense central calcifications, and stability in size (non-progressive).
Card 6
Question: Which features of a solitary pulmonary nodule are more indicative of malignancy?
Answer: Larger size (>2 cm), irregular margins, eccentric/asymmetric calcification, and increasing size over time.
Card 7
Question: How are SCLC stages divided in the text, and what do they mean?
Answer: Limited stage – tumor confined to the chest and supraclavicular lymph nodes (does not include cervical/axillary nodes); Extensive stage – tumor outsid
Card 8
Question: What local symptoms can tumors affecting the airways cause?
Answer: Cough, hemoptysis, airway obstruction, wheezing, and dyspnea; also recurrent (post-obstructive) pneumonia.
Card 9
Question: What symptoms can arise from compression or local invasion of surrounding structures by a lung tumor?
Answer: Cough, hemoptysis, chest pain, dyspnea, post-obstructive pneumonia, dysphagia, superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome, nerve compression leading to hoarsen
Card 10
Question: What is the main clinical question when a solitary pulmonary nodule is found?
Answer: Whether the lesion is malignant and requires biopsy or resection, as early removal of malignancy can lead to a cure.