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Lung Cancer Case Study

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Lung Cancer Case Study

Introduction

Throughout the United States of America and around the world, lung cancer is a

major cause of cancer-related death. Lung cancer claims the lives of nearly as many

Americans each year as prostate, breast, and colon cancer combined. The respiratory

epithelium cells are the source of lung cancer, which can be further divided into two types.

15% of all cases of lung cancer are SCLC, a highly malignant tumor originating from cells

with neuroendocrine characteristics. Squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large

cell carcinoma are the three major pathological subtypes of non–small cell lung cancer

(NSCLC), which collectively account for the remaining 85 percent of cases. Squamous cell

carcinoma makes up for 20% of all lung cancer cases, and large cell carcinoma reports for 2.9

percent (Bade, & Cruz, 2020). Adenocarcinoma alone accounts for 38.5 percent of all lung

cancer cases. 3,5 Adenocarcinoma incidence has skyrocketed over the last few decades, and it

has now surpassed squamous cell carcinoma as one of the most common form of non-small

cell lung cancer.

Presentation of Lung Cancer in the Respiratory System

When it comes to the respiratory system, it can be divided into two parts: the

conducting zone (nose to bronchioles) and the respiratory zone (the alveolar duct to alveoli).

The upper respiratory tract (nose, larynx, and pharynx) and lower respiratory tract (trachea

and lungs) are separated anatomically (organ within thorax - trachea, bronchi, bronchioles,

alveolar duct and alveoli). The nasal septum divides the nose and nasal cavity in half. Three

conchae or turbinates line the outside of the nose (greater, middle and smaller). For

nasotracheal intubation, the passage below the inferior turbinate is preferred. Passage from

the nose and mouth to the larynx and stomach is made possible by a pharynx. A person's
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throat is divided into three sections: the nasal cavity, the tonsils, and finally, the

laryngopharynx. If the soft tissue in the pharynx's bony enclosure grows or shrinks, it will

create an anatomical imbalance and limit the amount of airway space available. (Barta,

Powell, & Wisnivesky, 2019)

A sophisticated system carries gases from either the trachea to the acinar cells, the

lung's gas exchange units. It is divided into 23 eons of dichotomous branching, beginning

with the trachea and extending to the last group of bronchial tubes. Each generation divides

the airway into two separate daughter airways. From the trachea through the terminal

bronchioles, the airways are pure conduits. Since there are no gas exchanges in this area, the

volume in these pipes is referred to as the dead space volume (average 150 ml). As their walls

contain occasional alveoli, the terminal bronchioles split into respiratory bronchioles or

transitioning bronchioles. These respiratory bronchioles divide further into alveolar ducts that

are lined entirely with alveoli. This area is known as acinus. The acinus consists of

respiratory airways and creates the lung's functional tissues (gas exchange units). A dense

matrix of collagen and elastic fibers supports the alveolar ducts, which are tiny tubes.

Alveolar ducts' distal ends exit into the alveolar sac, which is composed of alveoli..

Effect of Squamous Lung Cancer in Other Body Systems

Tumor cells that are capable of passing through the extracellular matrix and basal

lamina initiate the invasion process, which then progresses to intravasation when they enter

the lymph system or vascular circulation (Howlader et al., 2020). Extravasation occurs as the

metastatic cells travel through the circulatory system and invade the vascular basal layer and

the extracellular matrix. Anxiety and discomfort are two possible outcomes of bone

metastasis. Bone fracturing after a minor injury or maybe no injury is the first indication of

bone metastasis. Severe back pain, leg numbness, or problems controlling one's bowels or
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bladder should be evaluated as soon as possible. light-headedness, visual problems, speech

difficulties and nausea if a tumor has spread to the brain. Clinical signs of lung metastasis are

often difficult to discern. This is due to the fact that their symptoms can be mistaken for those

of a variety of other conditions. Coughing up blood, heart palpitations, or shortness of breath

are all possible warning signs. Pain, loss of weight, vomiting, decreased appetite, abdominal

fluid (ascites), or jaundice may be symptoms of liver metastasis. The lymphatic system and

the circulatory system can both be used by cancer to spread. Metastatic disease and tumor

staging are both made possible by the movement of cancer cells into lymph nodes via the

lymphatic system. Immediate interaction with other organs, such as the gut cavity, can spread

some cancers. Tumors that have spread to other parts of the body can cause problems for

organs that are already under stress. Metastatic SCC especially if it involves the

gastrointestinal tract typically originates from lung primary tumors, however these instances

are extremely uncommon. In spite of the dysphagia mimicking radiation esophagitis,

gastroduodenal metastases from basic lung squamous cell carcinoma were ultimately found

to be the root cause (Rudin et al., 2021). Few people are diagnosed with stomach and

duodenum cancers. SCC can spread to the gastrointestinal system and cause primary or

metastatic disease, and the doctor should be conscious of these possibilities.

References
Bade, B. C., & Cruz, C. S. D. (2020). Lung cancer 2020: epidemiology, etiology, and

prevention. Clinics in chest medicine, 41(1), 1-24.

Barta, J. A., Powell, C. A., & Wisnivesky, J. P. (2019). Global epidemiology of lung

cancer. Annals of global health, 85(1).

Howlader, N., Forjaz, G., Mooradian, M. J., Meza, R., Kong, C. Y., Cronin, K. A., ... &

Feuer, E. J. (2020). The effect of advances in lung-cancer treatment on population

mortality. New England Journal of Medicine, 383(7), 640-649.

Rudin, C. M., Brambilla, E., Faivre-Finn, C., & Sage, J. (2021). Small-cell lung

cancer. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 7(1), 1-20.