pancoast tumor

Pancoast tumor refers to malignant tumor occurring in the apex of lung, characterized by special location, difficult diagnosis, complicated treatment, relatively poor prognosis, and various symptoms. 1. Special location Because it is located in the apex of lung, it is easy to invade surrounding tissue structures, such as brachial plexus and sympathetic nerves, resulting in pain, numbness and Horner syndrome in the shoulder and upper limbs. 2. Difficult to diagnose Early symptoms may not be typical, easy to be misdiagnosed or missed diagnosis, often need to combine a variety of examination methods, such as imaging examination, pathological biopsy, etc. for accurate diagnosis. 3. Complex treatment usually requires comprehensive treatment, including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, etc. Surgery is difficult, due to tumor location and invasion range, the surgical technique requirements are high. 4. The prognosis of Pancoast tumor may be less ideal than that of lung cancer in other parts, but active and effective treatment can still improve the quality of life and survival period of patients to some extent. 5. The symptoms are diverse. In addition to local symptoms, there may also be systemic symptoms, such as fatigue, weight loss, etc., which are related to tumor consumption and possible metastasis. For Pancoast tumors, early detection and accurate diagnosis are essential in order to take appropriate treatment measures in time to improve patient survival and quality of life. Multidisciplinary collaboration also plays a key role in their treatment.