Lung Cancer Diagnosis – What Options do We Have?

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Lung Cancer Diagnosis – What Options do We Have?

Just recently, Larry King underwent lung cancer surgery. His cancer was diagnosed in a regular chest      x-ray. “Get a chest X-ray. It takes two seconds”, he suggests.

However, not everyone is as lucky as Larry is. Lung cancer may be diagnosed in a simple x-ray or it may require a series of tests for proper diagnosis. Lung cancer claims at least 1.3 million lives across the globe, and according to the American Cancer Society, at least 14% new lung cancer cases are diagnosed each year.

Do you believe that quitting smoking or not smoking at all throughout your life can save you from lung cancer? Then, you are wrong, my friend. Lung cancer is more prevalent among the smokers, but people who do not smoke at all or rarely smoke are at the equal risk.

Environmental pollution, increasing number of carbon and nitrogen emissions, and depleted ozone layer are also responsible for increasing ratio of lung cancer. Worse, lung cancer starts building several years before it shows its symptoms. This means that the sufferer may seek medical help years after developing lung cancer, which is why, the treatment of lung cancer may require longer than other types of cancers.

In Larry King’s case, lung cancer had just started developing on the lymph nodules, which were removed in the surgery. Had he not underwent X-ray examination, his lung cancer would have developed and extended to other parts of the body.

Classification of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is classified into small cell lung cancer (20% of all lung cancers) and non-small cell lung cancer (80% of all lung cancers). A few years ago, small cell lung cancer was known as oat cell lung cancer, because when observed under microscope, the cancer cells resembled oats. Small cell lung cancer grows uncontrollably and spreads to other parts of the body. Small cell tumors usually start developing in the central bronchi. The tumors may block air passage and cause difficulty breathing. These tumors also block the absorption of mucus into the lungs, which is required to keep the lungs moist and functioning correctly. A large majority of the small cell lung cancers are caused due to smoking.

Non-small cell lung cancer is usually distributed into four types and the treatment of each type is different from others.

  1. Adenocarcinoma – Most common among non-smokers, adenocarcinoma develops in the lung’s mucus-producing cells. Adenocarcinoma cells resemble the gland cells that produce mucus.
  2. Squamous Cell Carcinoma – Also known as epidermoid carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma is more common among men in the US. It develops in the bronchial lining of the lungs. The cancerous cells resemble flat cells (squamous cells).
  3. Bronchioalveolar carcinoma – This type of cancer is categorized as adenocarcinoma. It develops near the air sacs of lungs.
  4. Large-cell undifferentiated carcinoma – It develops near the surface of lungs or the outer edges. This type of cancer grows rapidly inside the body.

The Three Differentiations of Carcinoma

A type of cancer that develops in the cells that line organs is called carcinoma. Lung carcinoma develops inside the cell linings of bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli. If carcinoma develops on the outer side or top layer of cell linings, it is called carcinoma in situ. This is pre-cancer stage and can be treated immediately by your medical doctor. Properly developed carcinoma is called infiltrating or invasive carcinoma i.e. it can develop to the lymph nodes and reach other parts of the body. At this stage, cancer has properly developed.

On cell differentiation level, cancer is classified into three categories.

  • Poorly differentiated carcinoma looks completely different from the cell structure of the part of organ, from where carcinoma arises.
  • Moderately differentiated carcinoma has some features of the cell structure of the part of organ.
  • Well differentiated carcinoma, the most complex cell differentiation stage, looks exactly similar to the cells of the part of the organ from where the carcinoma came from.

Diagnosis of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer grows silently inside the body. Sometimes, lung cancer reaches various other organs of the body until it starts unveiling its symptoms. Therefore, lung cancer at early stage, or before symptoms, is a rarity, and it occurs by chance. Thorough medical examination each year can help prevent the occurrence of lung cancer, and manage its existence at early stage. A majority of the lung cancers are diagnosed through medical examination “after the symptoms unveil”.

The diagnosis of lung cancer starts from medical examination. The doctor asks about risk factors of lung cancer and medical history of the patient. Our blog on Cancer and Inheritance explains about the chances of cancer due to genetic or family history.

After physical examination, the medical doctor will start looking into regular testing, which is biopsy of lung tissue or imaging tests.

Lung Biopsy

In lung biopsy, a small part of the lung is removed for observation under microscope. It is done in four ways. In bronchoscopic lung biopsy, a lighted instrument is inserted through the nose or mouth to take a sample of lung. This basic lung biopsy technique is used in the diagnosis of various other lung health related problems.

In needle lung biopsy, a long needle is inserted through the chest wall, followed by fluoroscopy, ultrasound, or CT Scan. This technique is required only when an abnormal lung tissue is located close to the chest wall.

In open biopsy, an incision is made between the ribs to take a lung sample. Open biopsy is required only when the aforementioned biopsy techniques do not provide adequate information or when a larger piece of lung tissue is required for diagnosis.

In video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, a small incision is made in the chest and a scope is inserted through it to take a lung sample.

Imaging Tests

Imaging tests are useful:

  • To observe the suspicious areas
  • To diagnose how far cancer has reached in the body
  • To determine the effectiveness of current treatment
  • To observe the symptoms of recurring cancer

Imaging tests include Chest X-rays, Computed tomography, or CT Scan guided biopsy, MRI Scan, and PET Scan. The latter is most important in the diagnosis of small cell lung cancer. In this technique, a slightly radioactive sugar is injected in the patient’s body, which collects in the cancer cells. A special camera creates images of radioactive cells in the body.

Bone scan is also included among the imaging tests. It is required only when there are chances that cancer cells have spread into other parts of the body.

Tests to Diagnose Lung Cancer

After the initial tests, the medical doctor conducts tests that help diagnose specifically lung cancer. These tests include:

Sputum cytology

Early morning samples of mucus are collected for at least three consecutive days. These samples are observed under the microscope for the possibility of cancer cells. Sputum cytology is more helpful in diagnosing cancer prevalence in major lung airways.

Thoracentesis

When fluid builds up around the lungs, it not only blocks the lung airways, but also reduces moisture in the lungs. The symptoms at this stage are quite obvious, including difficulty breathing. Sometimes, heart failure or an infection may also cause fluid buildup around the lungs. In thoracentesis, the skin around the chest is numbed and a needle is injected to excrete fluid. This fluid is observed under a microscope. Thoracentesis also helps relieving the symptoms of lung cancer as it reduces the load around the lungs.

Bronchoscopy

Large lung airways can be clearly observed with bronchoscopy. In this technique, the mouth and throat are sprayed with numbing medicine. Sometimes, medicine is given through intravenous line. Then, a light fiber optic tube is inserted through nose or mouth into the windpipe and bronchi. Small instruments are passed through bronchoscope to take biopsy samples.

Is Lung Cancer that Has Spread to Other Parts Diagnosable?

If lung cancer is diagnosed, your medical doctor will conduct advance examinations to make sure that lung cancer has not spread into any other part of the body. This testing is necessary before drafting a personalized treatment. The tests used to diagnose cancer prevalence in other parts include endobronchial ultrasound, endoscopic esophageal ultrasound, medistinoscopy and medistinotomy, and thoracoscopy.  The diagnosis of cancer strongly depends on how early you visit your medical doctor.

 

References

http://fox6now.com/2017/09/16/larry-king-reveals-lung-cancer-diagnosis/

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/lung-cancer

https://www.cancer.org/treatment/understanding-your-diagnosis/tests/understanding-your-pathology-report/lung-pathology/lung-cancer-pathology.html

http://www.encyclopedia.com/medicine/diseases-and-conditions/pathology/small-cell-lung-cancer

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