What are the methods for diagnosing small cell lung cancer?

What are the methods for diagnosing small cell lung cancer? We often hear about this disease. In fact, most patients are caused by excessive smoking, and they think that they can't be cured when they hear that they have cancer. But how to diagnose it? Let's learn about the methods for diagnosing small cell lung cancer!

Diagnosis of small cell lung cancer:

1. Chest X-ray and radiography can reveal various circular shadows, pneumonia, atelectasis, pleural effusion, etc. Chest X-ray, CT and MRI examinations can help us understand the relationship between the size of the tumor and the lung lobe, segment and bronchi. Bronchial iodized oil contrast can be performed if necessary.

2. Repeated examination of sputum for cancer cells may yield positive results, which are of diagnostic value.

3. Bronchoscopy can directly observe the lesions, and can also take biopsy samples for pathological examination and bronchial secretion smears to check for cancer cells.

4. If the lung puncture is accurately positioned, a smear examination of the puncture material can generally obtain a positive result, which is of diagnostic value.

5. Superficial lymph node puncture or biopsy: When lung cancer has not yet been confirmed or is accompanied by widening of the upper mediastinum, puncture and aspiration of cells or biopsy of palpable lymph nodes on the neck and clavicle, suspicious subcutaneous masses, and suspected cancerous lymph nodes in other parts can be performed to obtain a pathological histological diagnosis.

Early symptoms of small cell lung cancer:

Like non-small cell lung cancer, the symptoms of small cell lung cancer are not obvious in the early stage of the disease. When common lung cancer symptoms appear, it often indicates that small cell lung cancer is already progressing, which is mainly related to factors such as the location, size, stage, and metastasis of the tumor. Small cell lung cancer progresses rapidly and is more difficult to treat. You should be alert to the symptoms of small cell lung cancer and try to diagnose and treat it as early as possible.

Small cell lung cancer is a highly malignant type of lung cancer, with clinical characteristics of short tumor cell doubling time, rapid progression, and often accompanied by endocrine abnormalities or carcinoid syndrome. Clinically, most patients with small cell lung cancer are already in the advanced stage when diagnosed.