Pancoast tumor

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Pancoast tumor

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USMLE® Step 1 style questions USMLE

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A 60-year-old man comes to the physician’s office due to a 2-month history of pain and numbness in his right shoulder and arm. The patient describes the pain as dull and deep, and it often awakens him at night. He tried some over-the-counter pain medications with minimal relief. The patient's medical history is significant for hypertension, cholelithiasis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. He smoked 1 pack of cigarettes per day since he was 25 years old but quit 2 years ago. On physical examination, 3/5 strength is noted on the right upper extremity, and hypoesthesia is present along the distribution of C8-T1 dermatomes. Eye examination reveals left side ptosis and miosis. Which of the following is most likely responsible for this patient’s presentation?  

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First Aid

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Anhidrosis

Pancoast tumor p. 704

Brachial plexus

Pancoast tumor p. 704

Hoarseness

Pancoast tumor p. 704

Horner syndrome p. 526, 532, 555

Pancoast tumor p. 704

Miosis

Pancoast tumor p. 704

Pancoast tumor p. 704

Horner syndrome and p. 555

labs/findings p. 729

lung cancer p. 703

superior vena cava syndrome p. 704

thoracic outlet syndrome p. 452

Ptosis (eyelids)

Pancoast tumor p. 704

Recurrent laryngeal nerve p. 637, 704

Pancoast tumor p. 704

Superior vena cava syndrome p. 96, 704

Pancoast tumor p. 704

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Pancoast tumors get their name from Dr. Henry Pancoast, who was the first radiologist to describe them.

So to be clear, these tumors are classified based on their location in the lung apices - the tops of the lungs - rather than on the type of lung cancer they emerge from.

The reason that Pancoast tumors are given special consideration is that this location allows them to interfere with nerves and blood vessels, which leads to problems that are unique from tumors in other locations.

Lung tumors are divided into small cell and non-small cell cancers based on the way they look under a microscope and how they behave.

Generally speaking, small cell lung tumors are made up of small cells which divide rapidly and spread quickly, and non-small cell lung cancers, which should probably be called large cell lung cancers, have large cells that divide and spread slowly.

As it turns out, the majority of Pancoast tumors are non-small cell lung tumors, but a few are small cell lung tumors.

Most of the time, the signs and symptoms of Pancoast tumors result from the tumor creating local inflammation and swelling and pushing up against nearby nerves or blood vessels – which disrupts their function; a phenomenon known as mass effect.

In some instances, there is tumor invasion, which is when tumor cells penetrate and grow directly into surrounding structures.

Now, at the first thoracic nerve root or T1, you’ve got sympathetic nerves that supply the head, neck and eyes.

This point is super close to the lung apices and so susceptible to compression or even invasion from a nearby Pancoast tumor.

Normally, these sympathetic nerves help to dilate the pupil, raise the eyelid, and help stimulate the sweat glands.

If a pancoast tumor pushes on or invades these sympathetic nerves, it can cause miosis - a small or constricted pupil, ptosis - a droopy eyelid, and anhidrosis - a failure to sweat, all on the ipsilateral, or same side, of the face as the nerve.

Together this triad of symptoms is called Horner’s syndrome, and happens on the same side of the face as the nerves.

If the tumor cells invade or grow into the brachial plexus - which is a collection of nerves that supply the shoulder and arm, individuals can get shoulder pain and weakness.

Summary

Pancoast tumor also called superior sulcus tumor, is a type of cancer mainly consisting of non-small cell cancer, which develops in the apical region of the lung and may grow and compress nearby structures. Commonly compressed structures include the recurrent laryngeal nerve, which results in a hoarse voice; the superior cervical ganglion, resulting in Horner's syndrome; and the superior vena cava, resulting in superior vena cava syndrome. Treatment for Pancoast tumors typically involves surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy.

Sources

  1. "Robbins Basic Pathology" Elsevier (2017)
  2. "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, Twentieth Edition (Vol.1 & Vol.2)" McGraw-Hill Education / Medical (2018)
  3. "Pathophysiology of Disease: An Introduction to Clinical Medicine 8E" McGraw-Hill Education / Medical (2018)
  4. "CURRENT Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2020" McGraw Hill Professional (2019)
  5. "Results of Bronchoplastic Procedures for Bronchogenic Carcinoma*" Annals Of Surgery (1960)
  6. "Transcervical approach (Datrevelle technique) for resection of lung tumors invading the thoracic inlet, sparing the clavicle" The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (1996)
  7. "Transmanubrial Osteomuscular Sparing Approach for Apical Chest Tumors" The Annals of Thoracic Surgery (1997)
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