PAEA Surgery End Of Rotation (EOR) Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the PAEA Surgery EOR Exam with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each accompanied by hints and explanations. Get exam-ready today!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

Which type of lung cancer is known for causing hypercalcemia, Pancoast's syndrome, and hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy?

Adenocarcinoma
Small cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma
Large cell carcinoma

The correct answer is: Squamous cell carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung is specifically associated with certain paraneoplastic syndromes, including hypercalcemia, which occurs due to the secretion of parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) by the tumor. This type of lung cancer commonly arises in the central portions of the lungs and is known for its potential to cause Pancoast's syndrome, characterized by shoulder pain, Horner's syndrome, and atrophy of the hand muscles due to local invasion of the apex of the lung affecting surrounding structures. Furthermore, squamous cell carcinoma is linked to hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy, a condition that causes clubbing of the fingers and periosteal bone formation due to the presence of certain lung tumors. This triad of symptoms makes squamous cell carcinoma unique among lung cancers, as it illustrates the frequent manifestations of both local effects on structures adjacent to the lungs and systemic effects such as hypercalcemia.