Squamous cell lung carcinoma — SCE Respiratory MCQ

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ModerateLung CancerSquamous cell lung carcinomaSCE Respiratory

A 67-year-old man has haemoptysis and a central cavitating lung mass. Serum calcium is 3.15 mmol/L with suppressed PTH. Biopsy confirms non-small-cell lung cancer. What is the most likely histological subtype?

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Correct answer: A — Squamous cell carcinoma

Central cavitating tumours with paraneoplastic hypercalcaemia from PTH-related peptide are classically associated with squamous cell carcinoma. Adenocarcinoma is often peripheral and more linked to targetable mutations in never-smokers. Small-cell carcinoma more commonly causes SIADH or ectopic ACTH.

Reference: NICE NG122; Royal College of Pathologists lung cancer dataset