Textbook of Medicine
Textbook of Medicine
Textbook of Medicine
BASIC INFORMATION
DEFINITION
A primary lung neoplasm is a malignancy arising
from lung tissue. The World Health Organization
distinguishes 12 types of pulmonary neoplasms.
The major types are squamous cell carcinoma,
adenocarcinoma, small cell carcinoma, and
large cell carcinoma. However, the crucial difference in the diagnosis of lung cancer is between
small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and nonsmall
cell lung cancer (NSCLC) because the prognosis
and therapeutic approach are different.
ADENOCARCINOMA: Represents 35% to 40%
of lung carcinomas; frequently located in midlung and periphery; initial metastases are to
lymphatics; frequently associated with peripheral scars; adenocarcinoma is described as
preinvasive, minimally invasive, or invasive
SQUAMOUS CELL (EPIDERMOID): 20% to 30%
of lung cancers; central location; metastasis by
local invasion; frequent cavitation and obstructive phenomena
SMALL CELL (OAT CELL): 20% of lung carcinomas; central location; metastasis through
lymphatics; associated with lesion of the short
arm of chromosome 3; high cavitation rate
LARGE CELL: 10% to 15% of lung carcinomas;
frequently located in the periphery; metastasis
to central nervous system and mediastinum;
rapid growth rate with early metastasis
LEPIDIC-PREDOMINANT PATTERN (BRON
CHOALVEOLAR): 5% of lung carcinomas; frequently located in the periphery; may be bilateral;
initial metastasis through lymphatic, hematogenous, and local invasion; no correlation with
cigarette smoking; cavitation rare
SYNONYMS
Lung cancer
ICD-9CM CODES
162.9Malignant neoplasm of bronchus and
lung, unspecified
ICD-10CM CODES
C34.90Malignant neoplasm of unspecified
part of unspecified bronchus or lung
PTG
EPIDEMIOLOGY &
DEMOGRAPHICS
Lung cancer is responsible for >30% of
cancer deaths in males and >25% of cancer
deaths in females. It has been the most common cancer in the world since 1985 and is
the leading cause of cancer-related death.
Tobacco smoking is implicated in 90% of
cases; second-hand smoke is responsible for
approximately 20% of cases.
There are >200,000 new cases of lung cancer yearly in the U.S., most occurring at age
>50 yr (<4% in patients <40 yr).
Among women there has been a 600%
increase in incidence of lung cancer during
the past 80 years. The rates of death among
women with lung cancer in the U.S. are the
highest in the world.
PHYSICAL FINDINGS & CLINICAL
PRESENTATION
Weight loss, fatigue, fever, anorexia, dysphagia
Cough, hemoptysis, dyspnea, wheezing
Chest, shoulder, and bone pain
Paraneoplastic syndromes (see Table 1-309):
C Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome:
myopathy involving proximal muscle
groups
C Endocrine manifestations: hypercalcemia,
ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone, syndrome of inappropriate excretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone
C
Neurologic: subacute cerebellar degeneration, peripheral neuropathy, cortical
degeneration
C
Musculoskeletal: polymyositis, clubbing,
hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy
C Hematologic or vascular: migratory thrombophlebitis, marantic thrombosis, anemia,
thrombocytosis, or thrombocytopenia
C Cutaneous: acanthosis nigricans, dermatomyositis
Pleural effusion (10% of patients), recurrent pneumonias (from obstruction), localized
wheezing
Superior vena cava syndrome:
C Obstruction of venous return of the superior vena cava is most commonly caused
ETIOLOGY
Tobacco abuse; the chance of developing
lung cancer for a 40-pack-year persistent
smoker is 20 times that of someone who
never smoked
Environmental agents (e.g., radon) and industrial agents (e.g., ionizing radiation, asbestos,
nickel, uranium, vinyl chloride, chromium,
arsenic, coal dust)
Lung cancer susceptibility and risk increased
in inherited cancer syndromes caused by
germ-line mutations in p53, retinoblastoma,
and germ-line mutation in the epidermal
growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene; also an
association between single-nucleotide polymorphism variation at 15q24-15q25.1 and
susceptibility to lung cancer
Dx DIAGNOSIS
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
Pneumonia
Tuberculosis (TB)
Metastatic carcinoma to the lung
Lung abscess
Granulomatous disease
Carcinoid tumor
Mycobacterial and fungal diseases
Sarcoidosis
Viral pneumonitis
Cell Type
Mechanism
Unknown
Cushings syndrome
Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome
PTG
WORKUP
Workup generally includes chest radiograph, CT
scan of chest, positron-emission tomographic
(PET) scan, and tissue biopsy. Lab tests should
include CBC, serum calcium, and liver chemistry
studies. Diagnosis and staging of lung cancer
should be performed simultaneously to minimize invasive testing.
LABORATORY TESTS
Obtain tissue diagnosis. Various modalities are
available:
Biopsy of any suspicious lymph nodes (e.g.,
supraclavicular node)
Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy: brush and
biopsy specimens are obtained from any
visualized endobronchial lesions
Transbronchial needle aspiration: done with
a special needle passed through the bronchoscope; this technique is useful to sample
mediastinal masses or paratracheal lymph
nodes
Transthoracic fine-needle aspiration biopsy
with fluoroscopic or CT scan guidance to
evaluate peripheral pulmonary nodules
Mediastinoscopy and anteromedial sternotomy in suspected tumor involvement of the
mediastinum
Pleural biopsy in patients with pleural effusion
Thoracentesis of pleural effusion and cytologic evaluation of the obtained fluid: may
confirm diagnosis
IMAGING STUDIES
Chest radiograph (Fig. 1-566): The radiographic presentation often varies with the
cell type. Pleural effusion, lobar atelectasis,
and mediastinal adenopathy can accompany
any cell types.
CT scan of chest (Fig. 1-567) is performed to
evaluate mediastinal and pleural extension
of suspected lung neoplasms. The chest CT
should include liver and adrenal glands (common sites of metastases). CT or MRI of brain
should be considered in a patient presenting
with neurologic symptoms (e.g., headaches,
vision disturbances).
PET with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18FDGPET), a metabolic marker of malignant tissue,
is superior to CT scan in detecting medias-
STAGING
After confirmation of diagnosis, patients should
undergo staging:
1. The international staging system is the most
widely accepted staging system for NSCLC. In
this system, stage I (N0 [no lymph node involvement]) and stage II (N1 [spread to ipsilateral bronchopulmonary or hilar lymph nodes])
include localized tumors for which surgical
resection is the preferred treatment. Stage III
is subdivided into IIIA (potentially resectable)
and IIIB. The surgical management of stage
IIIA disease (N2 [involvement of ipsilateral
mediastinal nodes]) is controversial. Only 20%
of N2 disease is considered minimal disease
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I
Right lower
lobe density
Right lower
lobe density
FIGURE 1-566 Lung neoplasm, primary. Lung mass presenting with hemoptysis. A, Posterior-anterior (PA)
chest x-ray. B, Lateral chest x-ray. This 83-year-old female presented with hemoptysis of a quarter-sized clot.
Her posterior-anterior chest x-ray shows a rounded right lower lobe density. On the lateral view, this is visible in
the retrocardiac space. This density measures 7.6 cm in diameter. Pneumonia, neoplasm, or abscess could have
this appearance on chest x-ray. Computed tomography was performed to further delineate the pathology (see
Fig. 1-567). (From Broder JS: Diagnostic imaging for the emergency physician, Philadelphia, 2011, Saunders.)
Major
fissure
FIGURE 1-567 Lung neoplasm, primary. Lung mass presenting with hemoptysis. Same patient as in Fig.
1-566. Noncontrast computed tomography was performed (contrast was withheld as a consequence of the
patients renal dysfunction) and shows a 6 by 6 cm round lesion abutting the oblique fissure (also called the
major fissure) and lateral chest wall. A, Soft tissue windows. B, Lung windows. On soft tissue windows, the
center appears slightly darker, indicating lower density that may represent central necrosis. If IV contrast
had been given, an area of necrosis would have failed to enhance. Infection or infarction is technically possible, but a pulmonary neoplasm is the most likely explanation for this lesion. Biopsy showed this to be a
moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. (From Broder JS: Diagnostic imaging for the emergency
physician, Philadelphia, 2011, Saunders.)
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PTG
Rx TREATMENT
NONPHARMACOLOGIC THERAPY
Nutritional support
Avoidance of tobacco and other substances
toxic to the lungs
Supplemental O2 prn
ACUTE GENERAL Rx
NONSMALL CELL CARCINOMA:
Surgical resection is the best hope for cure
in patients with operable NSCLC (stage I or
II when the patient is a surgical candidate).
Lobectomy is the best standard surgical
approach. Lesser resections may be necessary in patients with marginal pulmonary
reserve. Video-assisted thoracic surgery
(VATS) is helpful in decreasing morbidity and
shortening hospital stay.
1. Surgical resection is indicated in patients
with limited disease (not involving mediastinal nodes, ribs, pleura, or distant
sites). This represents approximately 15%
to 30% of diagnosed cases.
2.
Preoperative evaluation includes review
of cardiac status (e.g., recent myocardial
infarction, major arrhythmias) and evaluation of pulmonary function (to determine
if the patient can tolerate any loss of
lung tissue). Pneumonectomy is possible
if the patient has a preoperative FEV1
= 2 L or if the maximal voluntary ventilation is >50% of predicted capacity.
Individuals with FEV1 >1.5 L are suitable
for lobectomy without further evaluation
unless there is evidence of interstitial lung
disease or undue dyspnea on exertion.
In that case, carbon dioxide diffusion in
the lung (DLCO) should be measured. If
the DLCO is <80% predicted normal, the
individual is not clearly operable.
3.
Preoperative chemotherapy should
be considered in patients with more
advanced disease (stage IIIA) who are
being considered for surgery because
it increases the median survival time in
patients with NSCLC compared with the
use of surgery alone. Gene expression
profiles that predict the risk of recurrence
in patients with early stage (IA) NSCLC
have been identified. These patients are
at high risk of recurrence and may also
benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.
4.
Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy
(chemotherapy given after surgical resection of an apparently localized tumor to
eradicate occult metastases) with vinorelbine plus cisplatin significantly increases
5-yr survival (69% vs. 54%) in patients
with completely resected stage IB or
stage II NSCLC and good performance
status. Adjuvant chemotherapy is generally indicated for patients with resected
stages IIA through IIIA.
Treatment of unresectable NSCLC:
1.
Radiotherapy can be used alone or in
combination with chemotherapy; it is
PTG
1Shaw
DISPOSITION
The 5-yr survival of patients with NSCLC
when the disease is resectable is approximately 30%.
Median survival time in patients with limitedstage disease and SCLC is 15 mo; in patients
with extensive stage disease, it is 9 mo.
Among patients with metastatic NSCLC, early
palliative care results in longer survival and
significant improvements in both quality of
life and mood.
Methylation of the promoter region of certain
genes (P16, CDH13, APC, and RASSF1A) in a
resected NSCLC specimen is associated with
recurrence of the tumor.
PEARLS &
CONSIDERATIONS
COMMENTS
CT screening with use of low-dose computed
tomography (LDCT) for detection of lung
cancer among persons with a heavy history
of smoking increases the percentage of lung
SUGGESTED READINGS
available at www.expertconsult.com
RELATED CONTENT
Lung Cancer Diagnosis
Lung Cancer Screening (Patient Information)
AUTHOR: FRED F. FERRI, M.D.
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