Cancer, Lung


Related Terms

  • Bronchogenic Carcinoma
  • Carcinoma of the Lung
  • Lung Cancer
  • Lung Carcinoma
  • Malignant Neoplasm of Bronchus
  • Malignant Neoplasm of the Trachea
  • Non-small Lung Cell Carcinoma
  • NSLCC
  • SCLC
  • Small-cell Lung Carcinoma

Differential Diagnoses

Specialists

  • General Surgeon
  • Oncologist
  • Pulmonologist
  • Radiology Oncologist
  • Thoracic Surgeon

Comorbid Conditions

  • Chronic lung disease (emphysema)
  • Decreased lung function as a result of surgery or radiation therapy

Factors Influencing Duration

Factors that may influence length of disability include the type and stage of the disease at initial presentation, any concurrent infections, overall health, type of treatment, and any complications that may result from treatment. In general, chemotherapy and radiation therapy treatments extend the length of disability.

Length of disability is also dependent on underlying lung function, which can be assessed by periodic pulmonary function tests.

Medical Codes

ICD-9-CM:
162 - Malignant Neoplasm of Trachea, Bronchus, and Lung
162.0 - Malignant Neoplasm of Trachea, Bronchus, and Lung; Trachea; Cartilage of Trachea; Mucosa of Trachea
162.2 - Malignant Neoplasm of Trachea, Bronchus, and Lung; Trachea; Main Bronchus; Carina; Hilus of Lung
162.3 - Neoplasm, Upper Lobe, Bronchus or Lung, Malignant
162.4 - Neoplasm, Middle Lobe, Bronchus or Lung, Malignant
162.5 - Neoplasm, Lower Lobe, Bronchus or Lung, Malignant
162.8 - Neoplasm, Other Parts of Bronchus or Lung, Malignant
162.9 - Malignant Neoplasm of Trachea, Bronchus, and Lung; Bronchus and Lung, Unspecified
197.0 - Secondary Malignant Neoplasm of Respiratory and Digestive Systems; Lung, Bronchus
212.3 - Neoplasm, Respiratory and Intrathoracic Organs, Benign, Bronchus and Lung; Carina; Hilus of Lung
231.2 - Carcinoma in Situ of Bronchus and Lung; Carina, Hilus of Lung
239.1 - Neoplasm of Unspecified Nature of Respiratory System

Treatment

Combination chemotherapy is usually the treatment of choice for individuals with SCLC because of rapid growth, tendency to metastasize, and sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs. Most individuals with SCLC have cancer that has spread extensively by the time of diagnosis and are not candidates for surgery. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may also be used to relieve disease symptoms (palliative treatment) in individuals with SCLC.

Individuals with NSCLC that has not metastasized out of the lung are candidates for surgical removal of the diseased lobe (lobectomy) or the entire lung (pneumonectomy) and the surrounding lymph nodes (lymphadenectomy). A smaller segment of the lung may be removed if the individual cannot tolerate a lobectomy; however, complete removal of all tumorous tissue is usually the goal of surgery. High-energy, radioactive particles (radiation therapy) may be used for treatment of NSCLC when surgery is not an option. If the cancer has spread to other organs, treatment with one or more anticancer drugs (combination chemotherapy) may be used in addition to radiation and/or surgical treatment.

Other medications for individuals with either NSCLC or SCLC include drugs to reduce airway obstruction (bronchodilators) and antibiotics to treat infection. Pain relief (analgesic) therapy may be necessary following surgery and for advanced lung cancers.

Source: Medical Disability Advisor






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