Small cell carcinoma (patient information): Difference between revisions

	Small cell carcinoma
Overview
What are the symptoms?
What are the causes?
Who is at highest risk?
When to seek urgent medical care?
Diagnosis
Treatment options
Where to find medical care for Small cell carcinoma?
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Possible complications
Small cell carcinoma On the Web
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
Images of Small cell carcinoma
Videos on Small cell carcinoma
FDA on Small cell carcinoma
CDC on Small cell carcinoma
Small cell carcinoma in the news
Blogs on Small cell carcinoma
Directions to Hospitals Treating Small cell carcinoma
Risk calculators and risk factors for Small cell carcinoma

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Latest revision as of 16:42, 27 November 2017

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Jinhui Wu, M.D.; Varun Kumar, M.B.B.S.

Overview

Small cell carcinoma is a type of histology of carcinoma. It exists in lung cancer, prostate cancer and cervical cancer, etc. And it accounts for approximately 15% of lung cancers. Small cell carcinoma spread to other organs early and quickly. For treatment, surgery is almost never an option. Chemotherapy may be a better decision. Prognosis for almost all small cell carcinoma is poor.

What are the symptoms of Small cell carcinoma?

Bloody sputum (phlegm)
Chest pain
Cough
Loss of appetite
Shortness of breath
Weight loss
Wheezing

Other symptoms that may occur with this disease:

Facial swelling
Fever
Hoarseness or changing voice
Swallowing difficulty
Weakness

What causes Small cell carcinoma?

About 15% of all lung cancer cases are small cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer(SCLC) is slightly more common in men than women.

Almost all cases of SCLC are due to cigarette smoking. SCLC is rare in those who have never smoked.

SCLC is the most aggressive form of lung cancer. It usually starts in the breathing tubes (bronchi) in the center of the chest. Although the cancer cells are small, they grow very quickly and create large tumors. These tumors often spread rapidly (metastasize) to other parts of the body, including the brain, liver, and bone.

Who is at highest risk?

Usually seen in middle aged and elderly
History of smoking for many years

When to seek urgent medical care?

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of lung cancer (particularly if you smoke).

Diagnosis

Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history. You will be asked whether you smoke, and if so, how much and for how long you have smoked.

When listening to your chest with a stethoscope, your health care provider can sometimes hear fluid around the lungs or areas of partial lung collapse. Each of these findings could (but does not always) suggest cancer.

Small cell lung cancer has usually spread to other parts of your body by the time it is diagnosed.

Tests that may be performed include:

Bone scan
Chest x-ray
Complete blood count (CBC)
CT scan
Liver function tests
MRI
Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
Sputum test (cytology, looking for cancer cells)
Thoracentesis (removal of fluid from the chest cavity around the lungs)

In some cases, your health care provider may need to remove a piece of tissue from your lungs for examination under a microscope. This is called a biopsy. There are several ways to do this:

Bronchoscopy combined with biopsy
CT scan-directed needle biopsy
Endoscopic esophageal ultrasound (EUS) with biopsy
Mediastinoscopy with biopsy
Open lung biopsy
Pleural biopsy

Usually, if a biopsy reveals cancer, more imaging tests are done to find out the stage of the cancer. (Stage means how big the tumor is and how far it has spread.) SCLC is classified as either:

Limited (cancer is only in the chest and can be treated with radiation therapy)
Extensive (cancer has spread outside the chest)

The majority of cases are extensive.

Treatment options

Because SCLC spreads quickly throughout the body, treatment must include cancer-killing drugs (chemotherapy) taken by mouth or injected into the body. Usually, the chemotherapy drug etoposide is combined with either cisplatin or carboplatin.

Combination chemotherapy and radiation treatment is given to people with extensive SCLC. However, the treatment only helps relieve symptoms. It does not cure the disease.

Radiation therapy uses powerful x-rays or other forms of radiation to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy can be used with chemotherapy if surgery is not possible. Radiation may be used to:

Treat the cancer, along with chemotherapy if surgery is not possible Help relieve symptoms caused by the cancer such as breathing problems and swelling. Help relieve cancer pain when the cancer has spread to the bones Often, SCLC may have already spread to the brain, even when there are no symptoms or other signs of cancer in the brain. As a result, radiation therapy to the brain may be given to some patients with smaller cancers, or to those who had a good response in the first round of chemotherapy. This method is called prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI).

Very few patients with SCLC are helped by having surgery because the disease has often spread by the time of diagnosis. Surgery may be done when there is only one tumor that has not spread. If surgery is done, chemotherapy or radiation therapy will still be needed.

Where to find medical care for Small cell carcinoma?

Directions to Hospitals Treating small cell carcinoma

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

How well you do depends on how much the lung cancer has spread. This type of cancer is very deadly. Only about 6% of people with this type of cancer are still alive 5 years after diagnosis.

Treatment can often prolong life for 6 - 12 months, even when the cancer has spread.

Possible complications

Cancer spreads to other parts of the body
Side effects of surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy

Sources

National Library of Medicine

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[Small cell carcinoma of the lung|here]]'''
+__NOTOC__
+{{Small cell carcinoma (patient information)}}
+'''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[Small cell carcinoma|here]]'''
-{{DiseaseDisorder infobox |
+{{CMG}}; '''Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief:''' Jinhui Wu, M.D.; [[Varun Kumar]], M.B.B.S.
-  Name           = Oat cell carcinoma |
-  ICD10          = |
-  ICD9           = |
-  ICDO           = |
-  Image          = Lung small cell carcinoma (1) by core needle biopsy.jpg|
-  Caption        = Histopathologic image of small cell carcinoma of the lung. CT-guided core needle biopsy. H & E stain.|
-  OMIM           = |
-  OMIM_mult      = |
-  MedlinePlus    = 000122 |
-  eMedicineSubj  = med |
-  eMedicineTopic = 1336 |
-  DiseasesDB     = |
-  MeshID         = D018288 |
-}}
-{{SI}}
+==Overview==
+Small cell carcinoma is a type of histology of carcinoma. It exists in lung cancer, prostate cancer and cervical cancer, etc. And it accounts for approximately 15% of lung cancers. Small cell carcinoma spread to other organs early and quickly. For treatment, [[surgery]] is almost never an option. [[Chemotherapy]] may be a better decision. Prognosis for almost all small cell carcinoma is poor.
-'''Editor-in-Chief:''' Jinhui Wu, MD
+==What are the symptoms of Small cell carcinoma?==
+*Bloody sputum (phlegm)
+*Chest pain
+*Cough
+*Loss of appetite
+*Shortness of breath
+*Weight loss
+*Wheezing
+Other symptoms that may occur with this disease:
-{{EJ}}
+*Facial swelling
+*Fever
+*Hoarseness or changing voice
+*Swallowing difficulty
+*Weakness
+==What causes Small cell carcinoma?==
+About 15% of all lung cancer cases are small cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer(SCLC) is slightly more common in men than women.
-==What is small cell carcinoma of the lung?==
+Almost all cases of SCLC are due to cigarette smoking. SCLC is rare in those who have never smoked.
-Small cell carcinoma mainly refers to small cell lung carcinoma. There are two main types of [[lung cancer]]: small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). About 10% to15% of all lung cancers are the small cell type. This kind of cancer often starts in the bronchi near the center of the chest, and multiplies quickly to form large tumors , even metastasizes throughout the body. Small cell carcinoma of the lung is almost caused by smoking. Frequent symptoms include [[cough]], [[chest pain]], [[hoarseness]] and [[shortness of breath]]. Treatments include radiation, chemotherapy or surgery.
-==How do I know if I have small cell carcinoma of the lung and what are the symptoms of small cell carcinoma of the lung?==
+SCLC is the most aggressive form of lung cancer. It usually starts in the breathing tubes (bronchi) in the center of the chest. Although the cancer cells are small, they grow very quickly and create large tumors. These tumors often spread rapidly (metastasize) to other parts of the body, including the brain, liver, and bone.
-Early small cell carcinoma of the lung does not have any symptoms. As the tumor grows larger, people may notice one or more of the following symptoms:
-:*[[Cough]] that does not go away
+==Who is at highest risk?==
+*Usually seen in middle aged and elderly
+*History of smoking for many years
-:*[[Chest pain]]
+==When to seek urgent medical care?==
+Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of lung cancer (particularly if you smoke).
-:*[[Hoarseness]]
-:*[[Weight loss]] and [[loss of appetite]]
-:*[[Bloody sputum]]
-:*[[Shortness of breath]]
-:*Iterative infections such as [[bronchitis]] or [[pneumonia]]
-:*New onset of wheezing
-Other health problems may also cause these symptoms. Only a doctor can tell for sure. A person with any of these symptoms should tell the doctor so that the problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.
-==Who is at risk for small cell carcinoma of the lung?==
-Clinical data has suggested that the development of small cell carcinoma of the lung is related to several factors.
-:*Smoking: Clinical data show that smoking is by far the leading risk factor for lung cancer, especially for small cell carcinoma of the lung. Women and children are victimization of Secondhand smoke.
-:*Radon: As a radioactive gas, radon increases the risk of small cell carcinoma of the lung.
+==Diagnosis==
+Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history. You will be asked whether you smoke, and if so, how much and for how long you have smoked.
-:*Asbestos: Epidemiological survey suggests people who work with asbestos have a higher risk of developing lung cancer, especially for small cell carcinoma of the lung.
+When listening to your chest with a stethoscope, your health care provider can sometimes hear fluid around the lungs or areas of partial lung collapse. Each of these findings could (but does not always) suggest cancer.
-==How to know you have small cell carcinoma of the lung?==
+Small cell lung cancer has usually spread to other parts of your body by the time it is diagnosed.
-:*Chest X-ray: This is the basic test for lung cell.
-:*Computed tomography (CT) scan and [[biopsy]]: CT scans are often used to diagnose lung cancer. It can confirm the location of the cancer and show the organs near the lung, as well as lymph nodes and distant organs where the cancer might have spread. These are helpful for determining the stage of the cancer and in determining whether surgery is a good treatment option. CT scans can also be used to guide biopsy and a biopsy sample is usually removed and looked at under a microscope.
+Tests that may be performed include:
-:*Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): An MRI uses magnetic fields but it is a different type of image than what is produced by computed tomography (CT) and produces detailed images of the body. Like computed tomography (CT), a contrast agent may be injected into a patient’s vein to create a better picture.
+:*Bone scan
+:*Chest x-ray
+:*Complete blood count (CBC)
+:*CT scan
+:*Liver function tests
+:*MRI
+:*Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
+:*Sputum test (cytology, looking for cancer cells)
+:*Thoracentesis (removal of fluid from the chest cavity around the lungs)
-:*Positron emission tomography (PET) scan: When doing this test, a small amount of a radioactive medium is injected into your body and absorbed by the organs or tissues. This radioactive substance gives off energy which in turn is used to produce the images. PET can provide more helpful information than either CT or MRI scans. It is useful to see if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and it is also useful for your doctor to locate where the cancer has spread.
+In some cases, your health care provider may need to remove a piece of tissue from your lungs for examination under a microscope. This is called a biopsy. There are several ways to do this:
-:*Whole Bone Scan: The goal of a whole body bone scan is to show if a cancer has metastasized to your bones.
-:*Sputum test: Cancer cell may be detected, if the doctor checks your sputum for many times.
+:*Bronchoscopy combined with biopsy
+:*CT scan-directed needle biopsy
+:*Endoscopic esophageal ultrasound (EUS) with biopsy
+:*Mediastinoscopy with biopsy
+:*Open lung biopsy
+:*Pleural biopsy
-==When to seek urgent medical care?==
+Usually, if a biopsy reveals cancer, more imaging tests are done to find out the stage of the cancer. (Stage means how big the tumor is and how far it has spread.) SCLC is classified as either:
-Lung cancer is a tumor that cannot be found early. If symptoms of lung cancer develop, go to see your doctor as soon as possible:
-:*Severe [[cough]] that does not go away
+:*Limited (cancer is only in the chest and can be treated with radiation therapy)
+:*Extensive (cancer has spread outside the chest)
-:*Severe [[chest pain]]
+The majority of cases are extensive.
-:*[[Hemoptysis]]
-:*Severe [[shortness of breath]]
 ==Treatment options==
-Patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung have many treatment options. The selection depends on the stage of the tumor. The options are radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgery, or a combination of these methods. Before treatment starts, ask your health care team about possible side effects and how treatment may change your normal activities. Because cancer treatments often damage healthy cells and tissues, side effects are common. Side effects may not be the same for each person, and they may change from one treatment session to the next.
+Because SCLC spreads quickly throughout the body, treatment must include cancer-killing drugs (chemotherapy) taken by mouth or injected into the body. Usually, the chemotherapy drug etoposide is combined with either cisplatin or carboplatin.
-:*Radiation therapy: This is a cancer treatment to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing by using high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation.
-:*Chemotherapy: The treatment is to use drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing.
-:*Surgery: Surgery is rarely used in small cell lung cancer because this kind of cancer cell tends to metastasize early.
-==Diseases with similar symptoms==
-:*[[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]]
-:*[[Pulmonary tuberculosis]]
-:*[[Acute upper respiratory infection]]
+Combination chemotherapy and radiation treatment is given to people with extensive SCLC. However, the treatment only helps relieve symptoms. It does not cure the disease.
-==Where to find medical care for small cell carcinoma of the lung?==
+Radiation therapy uses powerful x-rays or other forms of radiation to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy can be used with chemotherapy if surgery is not possible. Radiation may be used to:
-[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;q={{urlencode:{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|lung cancer}}}}&amp;sll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;sspn=65.008093,112.148438&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;ll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;spn=91.690419,149.414063&amp;z=2&amp;source=embed Directions to Hospitals Treating lung cancer]
+Treat the cancer, along with chemotherapy if surgery is not possible
+Help relieve symptoms caused by the cancer such as breathing problems and swelling.
+Help relieve cancer pain when the cancer has spread to the bones
+Often, SCLC may have already spread to the brain, even when there are no symptoms or other signs of cancer in the brain. As a result, radiation therapy to the brain may be given to some patients with smaller cancers, or to those who had a good response in the first round of chemotherapy. This method is called prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI).
-==Prevention of small cell carcinoma of the lung==
+Very few patients with SCLC are helped by having surgery because the disease has often spread by the time of diagnosis. Surgery may be done when there is only one tumor that has not spread. If surgery is done, chemotherapy or radiation therapy will still be needed.
-The most important measure of preventing small cell carcinoma of the lung is quitting smoking, including avoidance of secondhand smoke. Other measure includes to be away from  radioactive source.
-==What to expect (Outook/Prognosis)?==
+==Where to find medical care for Small cell carcinoma?==
-For most patients with small cell lung cancer, current treatments do not cure the cancer. The prognosis of small cell carcinoma of the lung depend on the following:
+[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;q={{urlencode:{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|small cell carcinoma}}}}&amp;sll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;sspn=65.008093,112.148438&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;ll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;spn=91.690419,149.414063&amp;z=2&amp;source=embed Directions to Hospitals Treating small cell carcinoma]
-:*The stage of the cancer
+==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?==
+How well you do depends on how much the lung cancer has spread. This type of cancer is very deadly. Only about 6% of people with this type of cancer are still alive 5 years after diagnosis.
-:*The blood level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
-:*The patient’s gender and general health
+Treatment can often prolong life for 6 - 12 months, even when the cancer has spread.
-==Copyleft Sources==
+==Possible complications==
-http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_2_1x_What_Is_Small_Cell_Lung_Cancer.asp?sitearea=
+*Cancer spreads to other parts of the body
+*Side effects of surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy
-http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/small-cell-lung/patient/
+==Sources==
+[http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000122.htm National Library of Medicine]
-{{WH}}
+[[Category:Oncology patient information]]
-{{WS}}
+[[Category:Pulmonology]]
-[[Category:Patient Information]]
+[[Category:Pulmonary patient information]]
+[[Category:Disease]]
+[[Category:Types of cancer]]
+[[Category:Overview complete]]
+[[Category:Template complete]]
+ [[Category:Up-To-Date]]
+[[Category:Oncology]]
+[[Category:Medicine]]