Benign lung tumors. How to identify and treat benign lung tumors How long do lung tumors live benign

18.05.2017

Benign formations in lung tissue are understood as a group of tumors that differ in structure and origin.

Benign ones are detected in 10% of the total number of pathologies detected in the organ. Women and men are susceptible to the disease.

A benign tumor in the lungs is distinguished by its slow growth, absence of symptoms and destructive effect on neighboring tissues in the initial stages. This is why patients seek treatment late medical assistance, being unaware of the presence of pathology.

The reason for the formation of pathologies in the lungs is not fully understood; there are only assumptions in the form of heredity, long-term exposure to toxic substances, radiation, and carcinogens.

The risk group includes people who often suffer from bronchitis, patients with asthma, tuberculosis, and emphysema. Smoking is one of the main factors, according to doctors, that causes the development of tumors.

Each smoker can assess his risk of developing the disease by calculating it using the formula - the number of cigarettes per day is multiplied by the months of smoking experience, and the result is divided by 20. If the resulting figure is more than 10, then the risk of one day discovering a lung tumor is high.

What types of tumors are there?

All pathological growths are classified according to their main characteristics. By localization:

• peripheral (formed in small bronchi, grow deep in the tissue or on its surface) are diagnosed more often than central ones, detected in each of the two respiratory organs equally often;
• central (originating in the large bronchi, growing either inside the bronchus or into the lung tissue) are more often detected in the right lung;
• mixed.

Based on the tissue from which the tumor is formed, the following are distinguished:

• those that are formed from the epithelium (polyp, papilloma, carcinoid, cylindroma, adenoma);
• tumors from neuroectodermal cells (schwannoma, neurofibroma);
• formations from mesodermal cells (fibroma, chondroma, leiomyoma, hemangioma, lymphangioma);
• formations from germ cells (hamartoma, teratoma).

Of the types of growths listed above, most are identified benign tumors lungs in the form of hamartomas and adenomas.

An adenoma is formed from the epithelium, the standard size is 2-3 cm. As it grows, the bronchial mucosa ulcerates and atrophies. Adenomas can develop into cancerous tumors.

The following adenomas are known: carcinoma, adenoid, as well as cylindroma and carcinoid. In approximately 86% of cases, a carcinoid is detected; in 10% of patients, the tumor can mutate into cancer.

Hamartoma is a tumor formed from embryonic tissues (layers of fat, cartilage, glands, connective tissues, lymph accumulations, etc.). Hamartomas grow slowly and do not show symptoms. They are a round tumor without a capsule, the surface is smooth. Rarely degenerate into hamartoblastoma (a pathology of a malignant nature).

Papilloma is a tumor with many outgrowths, formed from connective tissue. It develops in the tissues of large bronchi, sometimes it can block the lumen of the organ and mutate into a malignant formation. Sometimes several tumors of this type are detected at once - in the bronchi, trachea and larynx. In appearance, the papilloma resembles a cauliflower inflorescence, is located on a stalk, also on the base, and has a color from pink to red.

Fibroma is a formation up to 3 cm in size, formed from the connective epithelium. The pathology can affect both lungs and grow to half of the sternum. Neoplasms are localized centrally and peripherally and are not prone to mutation.

Lipoma (also known as a wen) is a tumor of adipose tissue and is rarely detected in the respiratory system. The bronchus is formed in the central part more often than in the periphery. As the lipoma grows, it does not lose its good quality and is distinguished by the presence of a capsule, elasticity and density. More often, a tumor of this type is diagnosed in women, it can be on the base or stalk.

Vascular benign tumors of the lungs (hemangioma of the cavernous and capillary type, hemangiopericytoma, lymphangioma) are detected in 3% of pathological formations here. They are localized both in the center and on the periphery. They are characterized by a round shape, dense consistency, and the presence of a capsule. Tumors grow from 10 mm to 20 cm or more. This localization is detected by hemoptysis. Hemangiopericytoma, like hemangioendothelioma - only according to some signs - are benign lung tumors, since they can grow quickly and become malignant. In contrast, hemangiomas do not grow quickly, do not affect neighboring tissues, and do not mutate.

Teratoma is a benign tumor of the lungs, consisting of a “bouquet” of tissues - sebum, cartilage and hair, sweat glands, etc. It is detected mostly in young people and grows slowly. There are cases of tumor suppuration and mutation into teratoblastoma.

Neuroma (also known as schwannoma) is a tumor of nerve tissue, detected in 2% of all cases of blastomas in the lung. Usually located on the periphery, it can affect 2 lungs at once. The tumor is characterized by the presence of a clear capsule and the round shape of the nodes. Mutation of neuromas has not been proven.

There are other benign lung tumors, which are quite rare - histiocytoma, xanthoma, plasmacytoma, tuberculoma. The latter is a form of tuberculosis.

Clinical picture of a tumor in the lung

Symptoms vary depending on the location of the growth and the size of the pathological formation, the direction of its growth, hormonal dependence, and complications. As mentioned above, benign formations do not announce themselves long time, can grow little by little over the years without disturbing a person. There are three stages of development of neoplasms:

• asymptomatic;
• initial clinical symptoms;
• pronounced clinical symptoms, when benign lung tumors give complications in the form of atelectasis, bleeding, abscess pneumonia, pneumosclerosis, mutation into a malignant neoplasm, metastasis.

The asymptomatic stage of a peripheral tumor, as the name implies, is characterized by the absence of signs. Once the tumor progresses to the next stages, the symptoms will vary. For example, large tumors can put pressure on chest wall and diaphragm, which causes pain in the chest and heart area, shortness of breath. If the vessels are eroded, bleeding in the lungs and hemoptysis is detected. Large tumors, squeezing the bronchi, impair patency.

Benign tumors in the central part of the organ disrupt bronchial patency, causing partial stenosis, with more severe damage - valve stenosis, and with serious disease - occlusion. Each stage is characterized by its own symptoms.

With partial stenosis, the course of the disease does not manifest itself much; sometimes patients complain of coughing with sputum. The disease does not affect general well-being. The tumor is not visible on X-ray; for diagnosis, you need to undergo bronchoscopy and CT.

In the presence of valve stenosis (valvular), the tumor blocks most of the lumen of the organ; when exhaling in the bronchus, the lumen closes, and when air is inhaled, it opens slightly. In the part of the lung where the bronchus is damaged, emphysema is detected. Due to swelling, accumulation of sputum with blood.

Symptoms manifest as cough with sputum, sometimes with hemoptysis. The patient complains of chest pain, fever, shortness of breath and weakness. If at this moment the disease is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, pulmonary ventilation can be restored, swelling can be relieved and the inflammatory process can be stopped temporarily.

With bronchial occlusion, irreversible changes fragment of lung tissue, its death. The severity of symptoms depends on the volume of tissue affected. The patient is diagnosed elevated temperature, shortness of breath up to attacks of suffocation, weakness, coughing up sputum with pus or blood.

What complications do tumors in the lungs cause?

The presence of a tumor in the lungs and bronchi is fraught with complications that can manifest themselves to one degree or another. Basic pathological conditions are listed below:

• pneumofibrosis - due to a long inflammatory process, the lung tissue loses its elasticity, the affected area cannot perform a gas exchange function, and connective tissue begins to grow;
• atelectasis - impaired bronchial patency leads to loss of ventilation due to changes in the tissue of the organ - it becomes airless;
• bronchiectasis - stretching of the bronchi due to the proliferation and compaction of connective tissue next to them;
• abscess pneumonia is an infectious disease characterized by the formation of cavities with pus in the lung tissue;
• compression syndrome – pain due to compression of lung tissue;
• mutation into a malignant neoplasm, bleeding in the lungs.

Tumor diagnosis

Considering the asymptomatic course of the disease in the early stages, it is not surprising that tumors are detected by chance on X-ray or fluorography. On an x-ray, the tumor looks like a rounded shadow with a clear contour; the structure can be homogeneous and with inclusions.

Detailed information can be obtained using CT, where it is possible to identify not only the tissue of dense neoplasms, but also fatty tissues (lipomas), as well as the presence of fluid (vascular tumors). The use of contrast enhancement on CT allows one to distinguish a benign tumor from peripheral cancer, etc.

Bronchoscopy as a diagnostic method allows you to examine a centrally located tumor and take a fragment for biopsy and cytological examination. For peripherally located tumors, bronchoscopy is performed to identify compression of the bronchus, narrowing of the lumen, changes in angle and displacement of the branches of the bronchial tree.

If a peripheral tumor is suspected, it is advisable to perform a transthoracic puncture or aspiration biopsy under ultrasound or X-ray control. Pulmonary angiography can detect vascular neoplasms. Already at the examination stage, the doctor may note a dullness of sound during percussion, weakening of breathing, and wheezing. The chest looks asymmetrical, and the affected part lags behind the other when breathing.

Treatment of tumors

In general, treatment for benign lung tumors consists of removing them, regardless of the risk of degeneration into malignant neoplasms. The earlier the tumor is detected and removed, the fewer complications after surgery and the risk of developing an irreversible process in the lung.

Tumors localized in central parts, removed by resection of the bronchus. If the tumor is attached to a narrow base, complete resection is prescribed, after which the defect is sutured. If the tumor is attached to a wide base, a circular resection of the bronchus is performed and an interbronchial anastomosis is performed. If the patient has already developed complications in the form of fibrosis, abscesses, then they may prescribe the removal of 1-2 lobes of the lung, and when irreversible changes are detected, the lung is removed.

Tumors localized in the periphery are removed in several ways: enucleation, resection, and, if large, lobectomy. Depending on a number of factors, thoracoscopy or thoracotomy is performed. If the tumor is attached to the organ with a thin stalk, it is prescribed endoscopic surgery. The operation is minimally invasive, but has side effects– there is a risk of bleeding, incomplete tumor removal; bronchological control is required after surgery.

If the thoracic surgeon suspects that the tumor is malignant, urgent histology is performed during the operation - a fragment of the tumor is examined in the laboratory. If the surgeon’s suspicions are confirmed, the operation plan changes slightly, and surgery, similar in design to surgery for lung cancer.

If a benign tumor in the lung is identified and treated in time, the long-term results will be favorable. At radical surgery relapses are rare. The prognosis for carcinoids is poor, with different types tumor 5-year survival rate ranges from 100 to 37.9%.

Considering the above, you need to take care of your health in a timely manner and do not forget to visit doctors.

A benign lung tumor, unlike cancer, does not metastasize and is no different rapid growth and does not violate general condition patient, and yet it cannot be considered safe for life. The lungs are vital important body, and any neoplasm in them can lead to breathing problems. Therefore, treatment of a benign lung tumor must be carried out, although it differs from lung cancer or sarcoma.

Today, new minimally invasive methods are used in the treatment of benign lung tumors abroad - in modern clinics in Europe, the USA, Israel and other countries with high level medicine. These technologies are much less traumatic, practically do not cause complications, the patient does not need long-term postoperative rehabilitation, and their cost is lower than traditional surgical operations.

Cost of treatment for a benign lung tumor abroad

The cost of treating a benign lung tumor abroad will be much lower than treating cancer, because very expensive chemotherapy and biotherapy are not carried out, as well as radiation treatment. For example, a benign lung tumor will be determined by the extent of the patient’s examination and the type of tumor removal method.

You can find out more about treatment prices on our website by filling out the contact form, or by calling us by phone.

Benign lung tumor - causes and types

A benign lung tumor is distinguished by the fact that it grows from ordinary, unchanged tissue - epithelial, vascular, connective, nervous. It occurs 10 times less frequently than cancer, mainly in people young up to 35-40 years old, characterized by slow growth.

The causes of tumor growth of tissues have not been precisely established, but there are predisposing factors - chronic inflammation, injuries, intoxication, tobacco smoke. Often such tumors are congenital. Depending on the source tissue, lung fibromas, hemangiomas, cysts, neuromas, neurofibromas, adenomas, lipomas, papillomas, as well as teratoma and hamartoma (congenital embryonic tumors) are distinguished.

By number, single and multiple tumors are distinguished, and depending on their location in the lungs - central (growing near the bronchi), peripheral (growing in the thickness of the alveolar tissue) and mixed. Determining the causes and type of disease is important in the further development of therapeutic tactics. The same approach is used for .

Symptoms and diagnosis of benign lung tumor

The clinical manifestations of a benign lung tumor will depend on its size and location. A central tumor compressing the bronchus will cause persistent paroxysmal cough, and blockage of the bronchus can lead to atelectasis - collapse of the part of the lung (lobe, segment or lobule) corresponding to this bronchus. This will be manifested by shortness of breath, and the development of pneumonia in the collapsed area is possible.

Small peripheral tumors may remain invisible for a long time, and only when they put pressure on the pleura do chest pains appear. When alveolar tissue ruptures, it can develop severe complication– pneumothorax, when air enters the pleural cavity and compresses the lung. At the same time, subcutaneous emphysema also develops - air escaping under the skin, respiratory failure. Often a lung tumor is accompanied by an increase in body temperature due to the addition of an inflammatory process, and hemoptysis may also appear.

Treatment of a benign lung tumor behind the garnitsa

Any lung tumor should be removed as early as possible, because a benign tumor can cause complications - compression of the lung tissue, development of inflammation, pneumothorax, bleeding. In addition, any benign lung tumor can, to one degree or another, transform into a malignant one.

Treatment of benign lung tumors abroad is carried out by experienced, qualified specialists in the field of lung surgery. Making the most of opportunities endoscopic removal, if the tumor is limited and there are no complications. Preference is given to electroresection, laser and cryodestructive removal. Such approaches are actively used in .

For peripheral tumors, economical resection of the lung within healthy tissue is used, and for large sizes or multiple tumors, segmentectomy, lobectomy, and sometimes even pneumonectomy are performed. Urgent intraoperative histological examination removed material.

If the benign nature is confirmed, the surgeon sutures the wound, but if malignant cells are detected, the scope of the operation expands. For the treatment of benign lung tumors, the qualifications and skill of specialists, the availability of new treatment and control technologies that are available in foreign clinics are also very important.

It is possible to detect a tumor in the lungs and determine what it may be with a detailed examination. People are susceptible to this disease different ages. Formations arise due to disruption of the process of cell differentiation, which can be caused by internal and external factors.

Neoplasms in the lungs are a large group of various formations in the lung area that have characteristic structure, location and nature of origin.

Neoplasms in the lungs can be benign or malignant.

Benign tumors have different genesis, structure, location and various clinical manifestations. Benign tumors are less common than malignant tumors and account for about 10% of total number. They tend to develop slowly and do not destroy tissue, since they are not characterized by infiltrating growth. Some benign tumors tend to transform into malignant ones.

Depending on the location there are:

1. Central – tumors from the main, segmental, lobar bronchi. They can grow inside the bronchus and surrounding lung tissue.
2. Peripheral - tumors from surrounding tissues and walls of small bronchi. They grow superficially or intrapulmonarily.

Types of benign tumors

There are the following benign lung tumors:

Briefly about malignant tumors

Increase.

Lung cancer (bronchogenic carcinoma) is a tumor consisting of epithelial tissue. The disease tends to metastasize to other organs. It can be located in the periphery, the main bronchi, or grow into the lumen of the bronchus or organ tissue.

Malignant neoplasms include:

1. Lung cancer has the following types: epidermoid, adenocarcinoma, small cell tumor.
2. Lymphoma is a tumor that affects lower sections respiratory tract. It may occur primarily in the lungs or as a result of metastases.
3. Sarcoma is a malignant formation consisting of connective tissue. Symptoms are similar to those of cancer, but develop more quickly.
4. Pleural cancer is a tumor that develops in the epithelial tissue of the pleura. It can occur primarily, and as a result of metastases from other organs.

Risk factors

The causes of malignant and benign tumors are largely similar. Factors that provoke tissue proliferation:

• Smoking active and passive. 90% of men and 70% of women who have been diagnosed with malignant tumors in the lungs are smokers.
• Contact with hazardous chemicals and radioactive substances due to professional activity and due to pollution environment areas of residence. Such substances include radon, asbestos, vinyl chloride, formaldehyde, chromium, arsenic, and radioactive dust.
• Chronic respiratory diseases. The development of benign tumors is associated with the following diseases: Chronical bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, tuberculosis. Risk of occurrence malignant neoplasms increases if there is a history of chronic tuberculosis and fibrosis.

The peculiarity is that benign formations can be caused not by external factors, but by gene mutations and genetic predisposition. Malignancy and transformation of the tumor into malignant also often occur.

Any lung growths can be caused by viruses. Cell division can be caused by cytomegalovirus, human papillomavirus, multifocal leukoencephalopathy, simian virus SV-40, and human polyomavirus.

Symptoms of a tumor in the lung

Benign lung formations have various signs, which depend on the location of the tumor, its size, existing complications, hormonal activity, direction of tumor growth, and impaired bronchial obstruction.

Complications include:

• abscess pneumonia;
• malignancy;
• bronchiectasis;
• atelectasis;
• bleeding;
• metastases;
• pneumofibrosis;
• compression syndrome.

Bronchial patency has three degrees of impairment:

• 1st degree – partial narrowing of the bronchus.
• 2nd degree – valvular narrowing of the bronchus.
• 3rd degree – occlusion (impaired patency) of the bronchus.

Symptoms of the tumor may not be observed for a long time. The absence of symptoms is most likely with peripheral tumors. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, several stages of the pathology are distinguished.

Stages of formations

Stage 1. It is asymptomatic. At this stage, partial narrowing of the bronchus occurs. Patients may have a cough with a small amount of sputum. Hemoptysis is rare. During examination X-ray does not detect anomalies. Tests such as bronchography, bronchoscopy, and computed tomography can show the tumor.

Stage 2. Valve narrowing of the bronchus is observed. At this point, the lumen of the bronchus is practically closed by the formation, but the elasticity of the walls is not impaired. When you inhale, the lumen partially opens, and when you exhale, it closes with the tumor. In the area of ​​the lung that is ventilated by the bronchus, expiratory emphysema develops. As a result of the presence of bloody impurities in the sputum and swelling of the mucous membrane, complete obstruction (impaired patency) of the lung may occur. Inflammatory processes may develop in the lung tissues. The second stage is characterized by a cough with the release of mucous sputum (pus is often present), hemoptysis, shortness of breath, increased fatigue, weakness, chest pain, fever (due to the inflammatory process). The second stage is characterized by alternation of symptoms and their temporary disappearance (with treatment). An X-ray image shows impaired ventilation, the presence of an inflammatory process in a segment, lobe of the lung, or an entire organ.

To be able to make an accurate diagnosis, bronchography, computed tomography, and linear tomography are required.

Stage 3. Complete obstruction of the bronchial tube occurs, suppuration develops, and irreversible changes in lung tissue and their death occur. At this stage, the disease has such manifestations as impaired breathing (shortness of breath, suffocation), general weakness, excessive sweating, chest pain, fever, cough with purulent sputum (often with bloody particles). Sometimes pulmonary hemorrhage may occur. During examination, an x-ray may show atelectasis (partial or complete), inflammatory processes with purulent-destructive changes, bronchiectasis, extensive education in the lungs. To clarify the diagnosis, a more detailed study is necessary.

Symptoms

Symptoms of low-quality tumors also vary depending on the size, location of the tumor, the size of the bronchial lumen, the presence of various complications, and metastases. The most common complications include atelectasis and pneumonia.

In the initial stages of development, malignant cavity formations, originating in the lungs, show few signs. The patient may experience the following symptoms:

• general weakness, which intensifies as the disease progresses;
• increased body temperature;
• fast fatiguability;
• general malaise.

Symptoms initial stage development of neoplasms are similar to signs of pneumonia, acute respiratory viral infections, bronchitis.

The progression of a malignant formation is accompanied by symptoms such as cough with sputum consisting of mucus and pus, hemoptysis, shortness of breath, and suffocation. When the tumor grows into the vessels, pulmonary hemorrhage occurs.

A peripheral lung mass may not show signs until it invades the pleura or chest wall. After this, the main symptom is pain in the lungs that occurs when inhaling.

On late stages malignant tumors appear:

• increased constant weakness;
• weight loss;
• cachexia (depletion of the body);
• the occurrence of hemorrhagic pleurisy.

Diagnostics

To detect tumors, the following examination methods are used:

1. Fluorography. Prophylactic diagnostic method x-ray diagnostics, which allows you to identify many pathological formations in the lungs. read this article.
2. Plain radiography of the lungs. Allows you to identify spherical formations in the lungs that have a round outline. An x-ray image reveals changes in the parenchyma of the examined lungs on the right, left or both sides.
3. CT scan. Using this diagnostic method, the lung parenchyma is examined, pathological changes lungs, each intrathoracic lymph node. This study is prescribed when necessary differential diagnosis round formations with metastases, vascular tumors, peripheral cancer. Computed tomography allows a more accurate diagnosis to be made than x-ray examination.
4. Bronchoscopy. This method allows you to examine the tumor and perform a biopsy for further cytological examination.
5. Angiopulmonography. It involves performing invasive radiography of blood vessels using a contrast agent to detect vascular tumors of the lung.
6. Magnetic resonance imaging. This diagnostic method is used in severe cases for additional diagnostics.
7. Pleural puncture. Research in pleural cavity with a peripheral location of the tumor.
8. Cytological examination of sputum. Helps determine availability primary tumor, as well as the appearance of metastases in the lungs.
9. Thoracoscopy. It is carried out to determine the operability of a malignant tumor.

Fluorography.

Bronchoscopy.

Angiopulmonography.

Magnetic resonance imaging.

Pleural puncture.

Cytological examination of sputum.

Thoracoscopy.

It is believed that benign focal formations of the lungs are no more than 4 cm in size, larger focal changes talk about malignancy.

Treatment

All neoplasms are subject to operative method treatment. Benign tumors must be immediately removed after diagnosis in order to avoid an increase in the area of ​​affected tissue, trauma from surgery, the development of complications, metastases and malignancy. For malignant tumors and benign complications, a lobectomy or bilobectomy may be required to remove a lobe of the lung. With the progression of irreversible processes, a pneumonectomy is performed - removal of the lung and surrounding lymph nodes.

Bronchial resection.

Central cavity formations localized in the lungs are removed by resection of the bronchus without affecting the lung tissue. With such localization, removal can be done endoscopically. To remove tumors with a narrow base, a fenestrated resection of the bronchial wall is performed, and for tumors with a wide base, a circular resection of the bronchus is performed.

For peripheral tumors, the following methods are used surgical treatment such as enucleation, marginal or segmental resection. For large tumors, lobectomy is used.

Lung formations are removed using thoracoscopy, thoracotomy and videothoracoscopy. During the operation, a biopsy is performed, and the resulting material is sent for histological examination.

For malignant tumors, surgical intervention is not performed in the following cases:

• when it is not possible to completely remove the tumor;
• metastases are located at a distance;
• impaired functioning of the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs;
• The patient's age is more than 75 years.

After removal of the malignant tumor, the patient undergoes chemotherapy or radiation therapy. In many cases, these methods are combined.

The features of a benign tumor are that the body tissues are not destroyed and there are no metastases.

The peculiarities of a malignant tumor are that it grows into the tissues of the body, and metastases appear. More than 25% of situations when a local form of a malignant tumor is diagnosed, in 23% there are regional tumors, and in 56% there are distant metastases.

The peculiarity of a metastatic tumor is that it appears in different organs, but at the same time it goes to the lungs.

This article talks about the signs of identifying a lung tumor in a person. And also about the types of tumor stages and treatment methods.

Prevalence

Lung tumor is a fairly common disease among all pulmonary neoplasms. More than 25% of cases this type diseases entail death. More than 32% of tumors in men are lung tumors, in women it is 25%. The approximate age of patients ranges from 40-65 years.

Lung tumors are classified into several types:

1. adenocarcinoma;
2. cancer that has small cells;
3. cancer with large cells;
4. squamous cell cancer and many other forms.

Depending on the location of the tumor, it can be:

1. central;
2. peripheral;
3. apical;
4. mediastinal;
5. miliary.

In direction of growth:

1. exobronchial;
2. endobronchial;
3. peribronchial.

The tumor also has the properties of developing without the appearance of metastases.

According to the stages of the disease, the tumor is:

• the first stage is a tumor that has small bronchi, with no pleural invasion or metastases;
• second stage - the tumor is almost the same as in the first stage, but slightly larger, does not invade the pleura, but has single metastases;
• third stage - the tumor has an even larger size and is already extending beyond the boundaries of the lung, the tumor can already grow into the chest or diaphragm, there is a very a large number of metastases;
• – the tumor spreads very quickly to many neighboring organs and has distant metastases. Most people get sick due to the abuse of carcinogenic substances that are found in tobacco smoke. Both men and women are equally at risk.

Smokers have a much higher incidence of lung tumors than people who do not smoke. According to statistics, the majority of patients are men. But in Lately the trend has changed a little because there are so many smoking women. In rare cases, lung tumors can be hereditary.

Signs of a lung tumor

There are a huge number of theories about the development of lung cancer. The effect of nicotine on the human body contributes to the deposition of genetic abnormalities in cells. Because of this, the process of tumor growth begins, which is almost impossible to control, and the symptoms of the disease do not appear immediately. This means that DNA destruction begins, thereby stimulating tumor growth.

Revealing lung tumors on an x-ray

The initial stage of a lung tumor begins to develop in the bronchi. The process then continues and develops in nearby parts of the lung. Over time, the tumor moves to other organs, giving rise to the liver, brain, bones and other organs.

Lung tumor symptoms

Lung tumor on early stage very difficult to detect due to its small size and similarity of symptoms with a number of other diseases. It could just be a cough or phlegm coming out when you cough. This period may last for many years.

Doctors usually begin to suspect the presence of cancer in people over 40 years of age. Particular attention is paid to smokers, as well as people working in hazardous industries who develop at least minimal symptoms.

Complaints

Basically, the most common complaint with bronchial lesions is cough, which accounts for 70% of calls, and 55% of cases where people complain of hemoptysis. The cough is mostly hacking, constant, and sputum is produced.

People with such complaints almost always experience shortness of breath, very often there is chest pain, about half of the cases. In this case, most likely the tumor extends into the pleura and it increases in size. When there is a load on recurrent nerve, wheezing appears in the voice.

When the tumor grows and compresses the lymph nodes, symptoms such as:

• weakness in the upper and lower extremities;
• paresthesia if the lesion reaches the shoulder;
• Horner's syndrome;
• shortness of breath appears when the lesion has reached the phrenic nerve;
• body weight is lost;
• the appearance of itching on the skin;
• rapid development of dermatitis in older people.

Removal of lung tumors

A benign lung tumor, no matter what stage it is, must be removed if there are no contraindications to this. surgical treatment. The operations are performed by professional surgeons. The earlier a lung tumor is diagnosed and everything is done to remove it, the less the patient’s body suffers and the less dangerous are the complications that may arise subsequently.

Surgery to remove a tumor on the lung

If peripheral lung oncology occurs, which is located in the tissues of the lung itself, removal is carried out using the enucleation method, i.e. in other words, by the peeling method.

Generally, benign tumors are treated by thoracoscopy or thoracotomy. If the tumor grows on a thin stalk, it can be removed endoscopically. But this option can cause unwanted bleeding and it is necessary to re-examine the lungs and bronchi.

Diagnostics

Preparing for surgery

Chemotherapy. A process that is capable of stopping their development and preventing them from increasing in size, while preventing their reproduction. This treatment option is used when small cell cancer, and in non-small cell lung cancer. This process is considered the most common and is constantly used in almost all oncology hospitals.

The only drawback is that with this process, complete recovery and cure is almost impossible to achieve. But, despite everything, chemotherapy can prolong the life of an oncology patient for many years.

A good preventative treatment for lung tumors is complete absence cigarettes in a person's life.

Symptoms and treatment of pulmonary fibroma (Read in 3 minutes)

Lung cancer - its symptoms and types (Read in 6 minutes)

Tumors form a large group of diverse neoplasms in the human lungs. In this case, the tissues of the lung, pulmonary pleura or bronchi, which consist of physically changed cells that are no longer able to perform their functions, grow significantly.

Benign and malignant formations differ in the degree of differentiation of the affected cells.

In addition, tumor-like tissue from other organs may enter the lungs; these tumors are considered malignant by default.

Causes, development factors and differentiation of the disease

Among the reasons that lead to tumors in the lungs, many different factors can be identified:

It is especially worth noting that the risk of developing a neoplasm increases in the case of chronic disease with decreased immunity, for example:

1. Bronchial asthma.
2. COPD
3. Chronic bronchitis.
4. Tuberculosis, pneumonia, and some other diseases.

In order to differentiate the neoplasm, additional examinations are necessary: ​​the tumor may also be a benign granuloma, which are quite harmless in nature, but there is also a possibility that the neoplasm will turn out to be malignant tumor, which urgently needs to be cured.

Among neoplasms there are two categories:

• Benign tumors;
• Malignant.

Benign formations appear from ordinary, healthy-looking cells. A pseudocapsule forms in them, and the surrounding tissues atrophy.

This type of tumor does not form metastases. Benign tumors appear mostly in men and women under 45 years of age, and the overall percentage is about 7-10% of the total population of all possible neoplasms in the lungs.

Benign bronchial tumors arise from cells that are similar in structure to healthy cells. These formations grow slowly, do not destroy neighboring cells and do not infiltrate.

The following types of benign formations are distinguished:

Symptoms of benign formations

The manifestations of benign tumors are quite varied and are divided into categories depending on the stage of the disease. There are three stages of the disease:

Diagnosis of the disease

In order to make a correct diagnosis, several additional procedures are necessary. It should be noted that single nodules in the lungs are especially dangerous for people over 35 years of age and can occur in smokers, including those who have recently quit smoking.

In people who do not smoke and are under 35 years of age, the chance that a single tumor will be malignant and form lung cancer, is less than one percent.

This observation allows us to draw a conclusion about the good quality of education. The next sign will be the physical size of the tumor: tumors less than a centimeter in size in rare cases are malignant.

Calcium inclusions in a lung tumor also reduce the likelihood that it is malignant - this can be determined using the same x-ray observation. And another sign of a benign tumor is the absence of tumor growth for two years. This observation should be carried out under the supervision of doctors, who should carefully monitor the tumor and make adjustments taking into account changes in its size.

X-ray is used to identify a variety of pathological diseases lungs, it can be used to identify various tumors in the lungs. On an x-ray, the neoplasm is visible as a fuzzy shadow with defined boundaries; the structure of such formations is quite clear and homogeneous, however, some especially prominent elements can be seen: small-sized lumps of calcification - hamartomas and tuberculomas - and solid, structurally bone-like fragments - teratomas.

Neoplasms of a benign or malignant nature are often asymptomatic - the patient does not make any complaints, and these pathologies can only be detected by X-ray studies.

But you still need to know that the above information does not provide a 100% guarantee that the tumor is benign and, of course, cannot serve as a sufficient basis for making a diagnosis. Only a specialist who has been observing the patient for a long time and knows his medical history can make an expert opinion based on data analysis and radiographs, as well as endoscopic observations. The decisive moment is a biopsy, the study of the materials of which will become the basis for the doctor’s verdict.

An important point will be the preservation of old x-rays, which are needed in order to compare with the newest images. This will make it possible to more accurately identify the location of the tumor and determine its nature. This operation will help save time and avoid unnecessary actions and begin treatment sooner.

If the patient does not have the opportunity to find images taken in the recent past, then people under 35 years of age who do not smoke should undergo a lung tomography every three months, and then carry out this procedure once a year - and this in the absence of data that says about the malignancy of the formation. In addition, it is recommended to do fluorography, which should be carried out by clinics at the place of residence.

A computed tomogram will be an invaluable assistant in identifying a benign tumor, because it can detect not only tumors, but also find traces of adipose tissue, which is characteristic of lipomas, it will help find fluid in the lungs.

Fluid is present in cysts and tumors of vascular origin. Computed tomography makes it possible to distinguish benign formations from tuberculomas, various options cancer and peripheral cancer.

Doctors should also determine the presence or absence of voice tremors and breathing, and determine wheezing in the chest. Asymmetrical rib cage may be a sign of obstruction of the main bronchus of the lung, other signs of this disease are smoothed intercostal spaces and a lag in the dynamics of the corresponding half of the cell. If the amount of data obtained from these studies is not enough, then doctors use other methods: thoracoscopy or thoracoscopy with biopsy.

Treatment of a benign tumor

In this case drug therapy useless benign education subject to complete removal by surgical intervention. Only timely diagnosis allows you to avoid irreversible consequences for the health of the patient and his lungs.

Tumors are determined by thoracoscopy or thoracomy.

Early diagnosis of the tumor is especially important, which allows preserving maximum amount tissue during surgery, and this in turn makes it possible to avoid numerous complications. The pulmonology department is in charge of recovery after surgery. The vast majority of operations are completed quite successfully, and the recurrence of tumors is practically excluded.

To remove the central lung tumor, a bronchial resection method is used. With this method, the lung tissue is not affected, but a small incision is made, which allows you to save most of it. functional fabric lung Fenestrated resection is used to remove a bronchus at the so-called narrow base, which is subsequently sutured or a bronchotomy is performed at this site.

For a more serious and massive tumor, one or two lobes of the lung are removed - this method is called a lobectomy or bilobectomy. Sometimes - in especially severe cases - they resort to pneumonectomy - removal of the entire lung. This operation is indicated for patients who have suffered serious lung damage due to the occurrence of a benign tumor. Peripheral tumors are amputated using enucleation, segmental resection is also possible, and especially massive tumors are amputated using lobectomy.

Patients over thirty-five years of age and smokers, in addition to the above examinations, are also required to undergo a biopsy. The biopsy is performed by an experienced surgeon, and depending on its location and size, the sampling technique differs. It is imperative to note that quitting smoking reduces the risk of developing various diseases lungs, including neoplasms.