9th January 2024

Extra-Respiratory

The extra-respiratory clinical features of lung cancer are largely related to metastasis to the relevant organ system.

• Bone
  • Features of hypercalcaemia include polydipsia, confusion, renal stones, bony pain, constipation and weakness.
  • Severe hypercalcaemia can be associated with cardiac arrhythmias, including ventricular fibrillation.
• Adrenal
  • Abdominal pain
  • Adrenal insufficiency, causing lethargy, weight loss, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. This can lead to an adrenal crisis, with features including profound hypotension, hyperkalaemia and hyponatraemia, hypoglycemia and syncope. This is a medical emergency.
  • Intra-abdominal haemorrhage
• Brain
  • Headache
  • Vomiting
  • Visual field loss
  • Hemiparesis
  • Cranial nerve deficit
  • Seizures
• Liver
  • Abdominal pain due to stretching of the liver capsule
  • Peripheral oedema
  • Jaundice
  • Ascites
  • Itching