How is small cell lung cancer diagnosed?

What is the basis for the diagnosis of small cell lung cancer? Many people are unfamiliar with small cell lung cancer. In fact, small cell lung cancer is more common in middle-aged and elderly people. So what should we base the diagnosis of small cell lung cancer on? Let's learn about the diagnostic basis of small cell lung cancer with us.

1. Symptoms and signs caused by the primary tumor

(I) Cough: It is a common early symptom, mostly irritating dry cough. When the tumor causes bronchial stenosis, a persistent, high-pitched metallic cough may occur. Cough is often accompanied by a small amount of mucus sputum, and when secondary infection occurs, it may be combined with purulent sputum.

(ii) Hemoptysis: Most cases are blood in the sputum or intermittent bloody sputum. In a few cases, severe hemoptysis occurs due to erosion of large blood vessels.

(III) Chest tightness and shortness of breath: The tumor causes bronchial stenosis, or the tumor metastasizes to the hilar or mediastinal lymph nodes, and the enlarged lymph nodes compress the main bronchus or tracheal carina.

2. Symptoms and signs caused by tumor expansion in the chest cavity

(I) Chest pain: Tumors directly invade the pleura, ribs or chest wall, causing varying degrees of chest pain. If the tumor invades the pleura, it will produce irregular dull pain or pain. If the tumor compresses the intercostal nerves, chest pain may affect their distribution area.

(ii) Superior vena cava syndrome: It is mostly caused by compression of the superior vena cava or, less commonly, blockage by a tumor thrombus in the cavity. It manifests as edema of the face, neck, and upper limbs, distended neck veins, congestion and varicose veins in the chest, and may be accompanied by dizziness, swelling of the head, and headache.

(III) Dysphagia: Tumors invade or compress the esophagus, causing dysphagia.

(iv) Choking and coughing: tracheoesophageal fistula or recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis causes choking and coughing when drinking water or eating liquid food.

(V) Hoarseness: It occurs when the tumor directly compresses or metastasizes to lymph nodes compressing the recurrent laryngeal nerve (mostly on the left side).

(VI) Horner syndrome: Lung cancer located at the upper apex of the lung is called Pancoast cancer. When it compresses the C8 and T1 sympathetic nerve trunks, typical Horner syndrome occurs, with ptosis of the eyelid, constricted pupil, enophthalmos, and little or no sweating on the face and chest wall on the same side. When it invades the brachial plexus, local pain and limited shoulder joint movement occur, which is called Pancoast syndrome.

(VII) Lung infection: Inflammation that can occur repeatedly in the same area due to tumor blocking the airway is also called obstructive pneumonia.