Lung cancer: Usually it is discovered accidentally – for example, in the case of an x-Ray of the chest. But a shadow on the lung does not automatically mean a bronchial carcinoma. Possible other causes, such as pneumonia or tuberculosis.
Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in Germany. Due to its unfavorable prognosis, he is by far the most common cause of death from cancer in men (with a share of 24 percent), and the second most common in women (15 percent). It is so hard to get him on the track, because there are no characteristic early symptoms or a meaningful Screening process.
Therefore, the disease is usually discovered by chance during an x-ray examination of the lungs: Then round or oval changes in the lung tissue, so-called shadow on the lung. The higher the resolution of the CT-equipment is, the greater the probability that a shadow can be seen on the recordings.
A shadow on the lung does not automatically mean lung cancer
Each lung stove around the stove, or Tumor, as the shadow in the lung is called in technical language, is suspicious and needs to be clarified. Among the typical causes good diseases – such as malignant tumors, but also infections such as tuberculosis, connective tissue, tissue changes after an injury, fungal diseases, or parasites such as the Fox or dog tapeworm can be a trigger for cysts or car pile-immune diseases for the formation of cell.
To find out whether the tissue that was visible when x -, is benign or malignant, a Lung endoscopy (bronchoscopy). Ultimately, the probability that it is a single shadow of a lung cancer is 40 to 50 percent, depending on the age of the patient and the size of the rotary hearth. According to a study of the thorax clinic of Heidelberg, 1467 surgically removed lung were approximately 51 percent of the herds of vicious.
Doctors work as Profiler – smokers are particularly at risk
“Potential lung cancer or possible metastases should be identified as early as possible, to be able to treat you successfully,” says Thomas Voshaar by the Association of Pneumological clinics (VPK) and head physician at the lung centre at the Bethany hospital in Moers.
In order to decide whether a biopsy is necessary, the doctor created a risk profile of the Concerned. The so-called risk of Malignancy is, not surprisingly, in heavy smokers higher than in non-smokers. A further factor is the appearance of the Rundherds. A irregular limited around the stove is a worse sign than one with a smooth edge.
Old x-rays to help in the clarification of
Helpful shots are a diagnosis of the older x-ray. “The patient can remain under certain circumstances, saves a lot,” says Robert Wurm of the Uniklink Graz (UKIM). Because a stove that has not changed its shape and size in two years is almost certainly benign. Most of the time he is observed in the following years. The progress of the disease, it comes to clarification.
Lung mirroring and punctuation to create clarity
The bronchoscopy is one of the most important studies. According to the lung mirroring the doctor knows, whether it is lung cancer and how the disease extended. It is the most important diagnostic measure for suspected lung cancer. With a bronchoscope – a flexible tube with a camera – can see the doctor, the bronchi and their branches, and tissue samples from the bronchial wall or enlarged lymph nodes.
He does not approach the suspicious tissue is punctured, the lungs by a long, thin needle through the skin of the chest into the lung is pierced. “This is not usually the removal is much more painful than a blood,” explains the cancer information service. A thin needle is inserted and tissue or cells is sucked in.
Reports, Videos, backgrounds: From Monday to Friday, provided you FOCUS Online with the most important messages from the health Department. Here you can subscribe to the Newsletter easily and free of charge.
After the diagnosis “cancer”
For a long time medics were sceptical as to whether in the case of cancer, minimally invasive surgery should be. It doubts that due to the limited field of view, all infected tissue is detected. Actually, the camera delivers a lower total overview, but is much clearer, larger and clearer in the Details – which is important for the Operation of tumors. Professor Georg Kähler, head of the centre for interdisciplinary endoscopy, University hospital Mannheim, says: “studies have shown that the results are as good as with traditional surgery.”
The most experience exists so far in the case of colorectal cancer, but also lung cancer is surgery more minimally invasive. Because of the up to ten-fold magnification of the surgical area through the Mini-cameras to be a particularly careful and precise Removal of tumor tissue is possible. The advantage for cancer patients, the operating load is in addition to the generally lower post, that the immune system is less stressed. The improved the prognosis.
The surgical instruments are inserted between the Ribs to the lungs
The OP method in the case of the lungs, called VAT, short for Video-assisted Thoracoscopy. The surgeons perform through a small incision between two Ribs of a camera in the chest, and two more, also only one to two centimeter long incisions in the procedure on the respiratory organ. Over a high-resolution Monitor, the surgeon controls his hand movements. The Tumor should be for the minimally invasive procedure is less than three inches. In addition, the lymph nodes should not be affected in the lung.
In selected cases, and in some clinics, the minimally invasive lung cancer operations, even “uniportal can be carried out”. The camera and all surgical instruments are pushed through a single, few-centimeter incision in the chest cavity. In this method, the surgery-related pain, are still lower than in the case of Video-assisted Thoracoscopy through three small incisions.
In the case of large tumors, complex vascular sutures and endoscopic SURGERY surrenders
This is not a comparison to conventional lung SURGERY. Here, the surgeon must open the chest with long cuts on the back and with the Spreaders and the Ribs stretching to make their way to the lungs. According to painful and lengthy healing process for the patient.
Your limit of the minimally invasive technique for complex Cancer, when tumors are large or in multiple organs and tissue grow, or if many vessels are involved, with fine sutures. Then the open surgery remains the method of choice.