Chest and chest wall problems

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Chapter 4 Chest and chest wall problems

Julian Smith

4.1 Introduction

Assessment of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems is usually done sequentially. The best general measure of cardiorespiratory function and of anaesthetic risk is the patient’s exercise tolerance.

Exercise tolerance can be assessed initially from the history and by simple office or bedside tests. An inability to climb two flights of stairs indicates a significant reduction in cardiorespiratory function. Postoperative complications are likely. Exercise tolerance can also be graded to give an assessment of diminishing reserve related to pain or breathlessness:

To assess respiratory reserve (Box 4.1), it is important to determine how well the patient can move air, assessed at the bedside or by spirometry with forced vital capacity testing. A forced expiration time (FET) of less than three seconds is normal. A time of more than five seconds is abnormal and indicates significant obstructive airways disease, as does inability to blow out a match held at 15 cm from the mouth. Obstructive airways disease is by far the most common type of lung disease seen. It occurs as part of the degenerative effects of ageing and is exacerbated by smoking.

The other main type of lung disease is restrictive disease, resulting from conditions that restrict or destroy lung tissue. Pulmonary atelectasis, oedema, effusions and infections are the most common causes seen in post-surgical patients. Counting while breath-holding should be possible for at least 20 seconds. Inability to do so suggests significant restrictive lung disease.

Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) augment the bedside tests and are used to define the degree of respiratory dysfunction on presentation, the amount of functional respiratory reserve and hence the ability to tolerate lung surgery and, at follow-up, the response to therapy. There are two major types of PFT:

When considering surgical therapy for a given patient, it may be evident that the patient has insufficient ventilatory reserve to cope with a chest wall incision or a major pulmonary resection and alternative non-operative therapies will need to be offered.

Arterial blood gas analysis is also an important investigation in patients with acute and chronic thoracic conditions. Parameters measured include PaO2, pCO2, pH, bicarbonate level and arterial oxygen saturation.

History

Breathlessness, chest pain, palpitations and cough are cardinal symptoms of cardiorespiratory disease.

Breathlessness on exertion is a feature of both cardiac and respiratory disease and is also seen in the severely anaemic patient. Dyspnoea at rest is more characteristic of heart failure (‘cardiac asthma’) than of chronic pulmonary disease. With cardiac disease, dyspnoea is of variable severity, not usually associated with wheeze or productive cough and may be nocturnal as well as exertional. The heart will usually be enlarged. Ankle oedema also strongly suggests heart failure.

Breathlessness on sudden awakening is called paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea, which is sometimes the initial symptom of congestive cardiac failure. By contrast, obstructive lung disease presents with exertional dyspnoea of insidious onset, a wheeze associated with prolonged expiration and an ineffective and productive cough. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea can simulate bronchial asthma first appearing in adult life or the symptoms of regurgitation and nocturnal aspiration of gastric juice in patients with reflux oesophagitis.

Marked fatigue relieved by rest is common in heart failure and in some instances may be the main complaint. Fatigue and lethargy due to chronic depression are not relieved by rest.

Any chest pain must be assessed carefully. In ischaemic heart disease, anginal pain is due to coronary artery narrowing or occlusion. Non-cardiac causes of chest pain are also common.

Cardiac pain is retrosternal, described as constricting or crushing, and may radiate to the neck or shoulders and arm. The pain may be brought on by exertion (angina of effort) or be continuous, suggesting myocardial infarction. Patients with angina can be classified using the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, as shown in Table 4.1.

Table 4.1 New York Heart Association classification of angina

Class Description
I Angina with strenuous exercise
II Angina with moderate exercise
III Angina after climbing one flight of stairs or walking one or two blocks
IV Angina with any activity

Elective surgery is permitted in patients with Class I and Class II angina but is usually contraindicated with Class III or IV angina. In these latter cases, coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary bypass grafting may be considered before major elective surgery.

Pleuritic pain arises from inflamed pleura, is described as sharp or stabbing and is made worse by deep breathing and coughing.

Awareness of the action of the heart (palpitations) suggests cardiac disease. This symptom must be defined as accurately as possible. The patient may be aware of a fast or slow pounding of the heart, a sensation of a missed or irregular beat or a fluttering in the chest. The symptom can occur in normal individuals after exertion or from anxiety. Syncope may occur. If the symptom has not been precipitated by such obvious causes, an arrhythmia should be excluded.

Cough is the most common and prominent symptom of respiratory disease. Paroxysmal coughing suggests bronchial obstruction. The integrity of the cough reflex is essential if sputum retention is to be prevented in the perioperative period.

Wheezing is a characteristic symptom of bronchial narrowing, occurring during expiration in chronic obstructive airways disease and paroxysmally and throughout the breathing cycle in bronchial asthma.

Haemoptysis can occur in many bronchopulmonary diseases, including bronchitis, tuberculosis, carcinoma and bronchiectasis. Haemoptysis associated with acute pleuritic chest pain suggests pulmonary embolus and infarction.

A careful enquiry should always be made about past and present medications taken by the patient and any allergy to such medications. This should include drugs prescribed, bought over the counter and ‘alternative’ medicines. Of particular importance are cardiac drugs and those with effects that might influence the safety of surgery, including insulin and oral hypoglycaemic drugs, oral contraceptives, diuretics, digitalis, beta-blocking agents and other antihypertensives, uricosuric drugs, anti-anxiety (phenothiazine) drugs, antidepressants, sedatives and aperients. The past history may reveal relevant illnesses such as asthma, tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, rheumatic fever or occupations of significance and allergies. Smoking habits and alcohol intake must be noted. Actions to diminish intake during preoperative preparation (which can minimise and reverse cardiorespiratory damage) must commence as soon as possible.

Physical examination

Examination of the head and neck

Central cyanosis implies increased deoxygenated haemoglobin in arterial blood leaving the heart. The bluish tinge is best observed in the tongue and buccal mucosa. When cyanosis is due to veno-arterial shunting, peripheral cyanosis is also present but the skin is warm — in contrast to the peripheral cyanosis of peripheral vascular disease or low cardiac output states. Central plethora with cyanosis is also seen in respiratory failure or polycythaemia. When cyanosis is associated with swelling of the head and neck, fullness of the central veins and loss of the normal venous pressure wave, superior vena caval obstruction must be considered as a possible diagnosis.

Examination of the eyes may reveal the pallor of anaemia. A greyish yellow nodule or plaque of the eyelids (xanthoma) suggests hyperlipidaemia. A white ring (arcus) at the junction of iris and sclera can suggest advanced atherosclerosis and hyperlipoproteinaemia but can occur in older patients without these stigmata (arcus senilis). Sometimes Horner’s syndrome is detected, with eye changes of meiosis, ptosis, enophthalmos and anhidrosis secondary to sympathetic nerve paresis from an apical lung malignancy. Brachial plexus symptoms (T1 compression) may coexist (Pancoast’s syndrome). Examination of the neck may reveal the diffuse goitre of Graves’ disease. Tracheal deviation may be due to displacement of a goitre or to mediastinal shift. Enlarged cervical lymph nodes may be the only sign of carcinoma of the lung or may be part of a systemic disorder such as sarcoidosis, in which pulmonary involvement is common.

Jugular venous pressure and pulse

The height of jugular venous filling (right atrial pressure) above the manubriosternal joint (right atrial level) is measured with the patient reclining with the neck at 45° inclination above the horizontal. The neck is examined in an oblique light with the head turned slightly away and the pulse wave of the internal jugular vein (running from the manubriosternal joint to the angle of mandible) observed. Filling of the external jugular vein is also noted. A raised jugular venous pressure is the cardinal sign of heart failure. The form or shape of the venous pressure wave may also help in the diagnosis of valvular and other structural cardiac disorders.

Differentiation between venous and arterial pulsations in the neck can sometimes be difficult. Venous pulsations are more easily seen than felt, arterial pulsations more readily felt than seen. Venous pulsation is characterised by two distinct waves in each cycle (‘double flicker’). The venous pulse will normally rise during expiration or the valsalva manoeuvre or on pressure over the liver and will fall on sitting upright. Compressing the internal jugular vein just above the clavicle eliminates the venous pulse wave. Arterial pulsation does not change with any of these (Table 4.3).

Table 4.3 Venous and arterial pulses and pressures in the neck

  Venous Arterial
Easily palpable No Yes
Visible but not palpable Yes No
Waves per cycle Two One
Changes with respiration and valsalva *Yes No
Changes with compression of neck and abdomen *Yes No
Changes with posture *Yes No

* If vena cava unobstructed

If there is elevation without a venous pulse wave and no fall on sitting to 90°, superior vena caval obstruction is probably present.

Examination of the heart

After inspection of the chest wall the strength of the cardiac impulse is assessed and the apex beat located by palpation. The apex beat is normally in the left fifth intercostal space in the mid-clavicular line, 7–12 cm from the left sternal edge. The apex beat may not be felt in the obese or emphysematous patient. Lateral displacement of the apex beat indicates left ventricular hypertrophy, especially when vigorous and sharply localised. An enlarged right ventricle causes little displacement of the apex beat; its pulsation is felt best at the left sternal edge. Vibrations or thrills may be felt corresponding to audible heart murmurs.

Auscultation is performed over the precordium, examining each phase of the cardiac cycle and using different positions to assist in interpretation. Starting at the apex, auscultation may reveal additional heart sounds, extracardiac sounds or clicks and murmurs due to turbulent flow within the heart. Murmurs are graded according to intensity. A soft short systolic murmur at any valve area may be innocent if there are no other abnormalities, especially if the murmur disappears during respiration or with a change in posture. Anaemia may cause a flow murmur related to an increased cardiac output consequent upon a decrease in oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Diastolic murmurs are not found in healthy subjects. The areas where murmur are best heard are: the aortic area at the right second costochondral junction and down the left side of the sternum — especially on leaning forward and in expiration; the pulmonary area at the left second interspace; the tricuspid area at the left fourth interspace; and the mitral area at the apex — especially when the patient is turned on to the left side.

Systolic murmurs are produced by valvular diseases, mitral incompetence and aortic sclerosis/stenosis or by ventricular septal defects. Fever, anxiety and pregnancy may sometimes induce benign systolic murmurs. The louder a systolic murmur, especially one associated with a thrill and cardiomegaly, the more likely it is to be of organic origin. An early systolic murmur that replaces the first sound and is transmitted into the left axilla is organic and is due to mitral incompetence and regurgitation. The aortic systolic murmur of aortic stenosis is ejection in type, midsystolic and is transmitted into the neck. Diastolic murmurs are caused by aortic incompetence, mitral stenosis or dilatation of the aortic ring in patients with marked hypertension and intracardiac shunt. The mitral stenotic murmur is diastolic with a presystolic crescendo component (unless there is atrial fibrillation) and is preceded by an opening snap, often best heard with the patient lying on the left side. The aortic incompetent murmur is in early diastole and is best heard with the patient leaning forward and holding the breath in expiration.

Finally the abdomen and legs are examined.

Congestive cardiac failure (CCF) is a very common medical problem encountered in surgical patients and includes left and right ventricular failure.

Left ventricular failure (Table 4.4) is characterised predominantly by symptoms such as exertional dyspnoea, cough, fatigue orthopnoea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea. Fatigue may be the chief complaint in patients with heart failure from mitral valve disease. The signs include cardiomegaly, basal crepitations in the lungs, gallop rhythm (a cadence found with tachycardia plus triple rhythm due to a loud, easily heard, third heart sound) and evidence of pulmonary venous congestion on X-ray (Kerley B lines).

Table 4.4 Clinical manifestations of heart failure

  Left Right
Symptoms Dyspnoea Dyspnoea
  Cough  
  Orthopnoea  
  Paroxysmal
nocturnal
dyspnoea
 
Signs Cardiomegaly Elevated venous
pressure
  Gallop rhythm  
  Basal crepitations Oedema
    Hepatomegaly

Right ventricular failure is characterised predominantly by signs — elevated venous pressure (the major sign of CCF), hepatomegaly and dependent oedema.

Examination of the chest and lungs

A knowledge of lung surface anatomy is important in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary disease. Both lungs are divided into two by the oblique fissure that follows a line extending around the chest from the fourth thoracic vertebra to the sixth costal cartilage, crossing the fifth rib in the midclavicular line. On the right side the middle lobe is mainly sited anteriorly and is separated from the upper lobe by the transverse fissure. The transverse fissure is transposed to the body surface as a line from the fourth right costal cartilage anteriorly and extends posteriorly to the fifth rib in the mid-axillary line where it joins the oblique fissure.

The chest is inspected for deformity and asymmetry, pulsations and scars. The rate, regularity, depth and ease of breathing is noted. Alterations in shape, such as the barrel chest of emphysema, are noted. The severity of breathlessness is graded. Laboured breathing with nasal flaring, accessory muscle hypertrophy, tracheal tug and intercostal retraction are the features of acute respiratory failure in children. Laboured breathing at rest with accessory muscle hypertrophy and pursed lips on expiration is diagnostic of emphysematous respiratory failure in adults.

Chest expansion is measured on palpation at the level of the fourth costal cartilage, after examination of the neck for tracheal position. A chest expansion of 5–7 cm is normal in adults under 40 years of age. Both lungs are compared for expansion, placing the hands over the areas to be examined and thumbs in the midline. Asymmetry of expansion may be due to pleural effusion, collapse or pneumothorax.

Percussion is performed with a uniform technique. The examiner should concentrate more on the note than the method, percuss from resonant to dull areas and compare sides. What constitutes a normal note can only be learnt with practice. Three notes of varying shades are detectable — dull, resonant and hyperresonant. Dullness over lung areas indicates the presence of definite pathology; its absence does not necessarily mean the absence of pathology. Dullness is profound over fluid and only slightly impaired over pleural or pulmonary fibrosis and consolidation. The hyperresonant note of emphysema is generalised and of low pitch; that of pneumothorax is of similar quality. The tympanitic note of percussion over a hollow viscus is different, being of higher pitch with a ringing quality. Distinguishing between these two notes is not easy.

Systematic auscultation is performed. Three types of sound are heard on auscultation: voice, breath and adventitial sounds.

Vocal resonance (transmission of voice — say ‘99’) is listened for systematically over all areas of the lungs. Vocal sounds are increased over consolidation and cavities. Marked increase in voice transmission is called whispering pectoriloquy. Diminution or absence of vocal resonance correlates with the degree of impairment of the percussion note. Vocal resonance is most diminished over an effusion.

Breath sounds are assessed. Normal breath sounds are produced in the larynx and consist of an inspiratory sound followed immediately by a shorter, softer expiratory sound, a pattern known as vesicular breathing. Vesicular breathing may be harsher in patients with prolongation of expiration from mild airways obstruction. Breath sounds are reduced or absent over effusion or pneumothorax, which poorly conduct sound from the underlying lung. Bronchial breathing is the main sign of consolidation. It has a blowing quality with an extended expiration similar to the tracheal sound, as this large tube sound is transmitted freely to the chest wall through solid lung. The sound may be soft or loud, high- or low-pitched. High-pitched (tubular) bronchial breathing is heard over pneumonic consolidation. Bronchial breathing may also be heard over fibrosed lung, a large cavity or just above an effusion.

Adventitious sounds occurring separate from the breath sounds are listened for. There is no generally agreed convention for the classification of adventitious sounds. One description divides adventitious sounds into three types.

Four main types of pulmonary pathology exist with distinct signs found on examination: consolidation, collapse, effusion and pneumothorax.

Consolidation, as is found over an area of pneumonia, is characterised by impaired percussion and bronchial breathing with:

Collapse (atelectasis) is characterised by impaired percussion with silence. The findings are of:

Pleural effusion is characterised by stony dullness with silence. The features include:

Pneumothorax is characterised by hyperresonance with silence. The features include:

4.2 Acute chest pain

Acute chest pain is always a worrying problem. Disorders of the heart, lungs and oesophagus need to be distinguished from other and less significant causes as rapidly as possible. The severity, site and radiation of pain, its precipitation and aggravation by exertion, breathing or posture and its association with other symptoms (dyspnoea, cough, palpitations, reflux) usually enable an early presumptive diagnosis to be made from a careful history. Pain may be clearly secondary to a lump or some other problem in the chest wall or to heartburn and water-brash (Ch 7). In this chapter causes of acute chest pain, presenting as the major or sole problem, are considered.

Clinical features

6 Less common causes

Acute aortic dissection. The pain is of sudden onset and severe and is often described as tearing in nature. It is otherwise similar to the pain of myocardial infarction but radiates through to the back and is felt mainly at this site. A difference in blood pressure between the arms and the murmur of aortic incompetence may be noted. Manifestations of ischaemia to the spinal cord, viscera or limbs are diagnostic.

Pericarditis. The pain of pericarditis is similar to anginal pain but often is exacerbated by breathing and coughing and relieved by sitting forward. The pain may radiate to the shoulder or inter-scapular areas. Pleuro-pericardial rub or signs of pericardial effusion (low blood pressure, elevated JVP, muffled heart sounds; known as Beck’s triad) and tamponade may accompany pericarditis. Cardiac tamponade should always be suspected in a patient with hypotension and shock associated with a raised jugular venous pressure and muffled heart sounds.

Ruptured oesophagus. This commonly follows a bout of severe vomiting, particularly if vomiting is resisted. Acute retrosternal tearing pain is accompanied by subcutaneous emphysema over the neck or thorax. Severe pain persists and worsens with progressive development of fever and manifestations of septic shock.

Referred pain. In pain due to spondylosis or vertebral compression, the root pattern of the pain should be elicited from the history. Local bone tenderness or reproduction of the pain on spinal movement is sought. The pain of gallstones and other abdominal conditions is sometimes referred to the lower chest.

Diagnostic plans

Treatment plans

4.3 Pleural effusion

The accumulation of fluid within one or other pleural space may be a manifestation of local or generalised disease. The effusion may be a transudate (specific gravity <1.016 and protein content <3 g/dL) or an exudate (specific gravity >1.016 and protein >3 g/dL).

Investigations

Chest X-ray (Fig 4.5) will determine the size of the effusion and may reveal underlying lung disease. CT scanning will also reveal significant intrathoracic disease. Diagnostic pleural aspiration will reveal the nature of the effusion based upon its appearance, cytological, microbiological and biochemical analysis. Pleural biopsy should be performed if the diagnostic pleural aspiration is unsuccessful or non-diagnostic. A malignant process leading to a pleural effusion requires adequate staging prior to the commencement of therapy.

Treatment plans

Therapy should be directed towards any underlying cause, for example, pneumonia (antibiotics), congestive heart failure (diuretics) or malignancy (chemotherapy or radiotherapy).

Patients with a malignant pleural effusion seldom survive longer than 12 months. Treatment is usually palliative. Closed chest tube drainage of the effusion provides short-term symptomatic relief, but the effusion usually re-accumulates upon tube removal. An attempt should be made to obliterate the pleural space (pleurodesis) to prevent the effusion re-accumulating. This can be achieved by introducing a sclerosing agent (e.g. talc) into the pleural space via a chest tube or at operation (video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) or thoracotomy) following drainage of the effusion.

Chylothorax (the accumulation of chyle within the pleural space) usually responds to non-operative intervention. Chest tube drainage and measures to reduce chyle flow (no-fat diet, parenteral nutrition) usually suffice. If the effusion persists or re-accumulates, operative treatment (thoracic duct ligation and/or pleurodesis) is indicated.

Empyema (the accumulation of pus within the pleural space) is most commonly post-pneumonic and is managed in its early stages by chest tube drainage. The pleural space may also be irrigated with antiseptic solution. In chronic cases, a thick fibrous wall or cortex forms around the pus-filled pleural cavity and this limits lung re-expansion following drainage of the empyema. Treatment options include prolonged closed chest tube drainage, open chest tube drainage after resection of a short segment of rib and open surgical decortication to remove the entire abscess wall. This releases the restricted lung, chest wall and diaphragm, thereby allowing the lung to re-expand and obliterate the pleural space.

4.4 Chronic cough and haemoptysis

Chronic cough is both the most common symptom and the most common form of presentation of respiratory disease. A surgically significant chronic cough is one lasting for one month or more. A change in pattern of chronic cough also demands full investigation. Diagnosis is materially aided if a previous chest X-ray can be compared with a current film.

Cough is usually a protective result of inflammatory, chemical or mechanical stimulation of cough receptors within the lungs. Coughing is also under voluntary control and may occur as a nervous habit in the absence of stimulation of receptors in the tracheobronchial tree. The cough reflex is mediated through the cough centre in the medulla, via the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves. Coughing may sometimes be induced by stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve in the external ear by wax, inflammation or foreign body.

Clinical features

The onset and duration of the cough are noted, together with the associated symptoms of sputum production, dyspnoea, haemoptysis and the environmental exposures and smoking habits of the patient. Cigarette smoking, and also smoking of pipes and cigars, are the most important causes of preventable morbidity and premature mortality from respiratory disease. The character and volume of the sputum should be noted. Difficulties in breathing combine undue awareness of a normally subconscious function with a discomfort in breathing not commensurate with the level of physical activity. They can arise from increased oxygen demand or faulty breathing. Haemoptysis is also not a disease-specific symptom and seldom helpful at arriving at a definite diagnosis; however, haemoptysis always demands full investigation. Voice changes suggest disease of the larynx or left recurrent laryngeal nerve damage. A history of fever, sweats and weight loss suggests the possibility of tuberculosis or some other generalised disorder, such as lymphoma, HIV/AIDS or collagen diseases. Physical examination must include careful examination of the upper respiratory tract as well as the chest.

2 Carcinoma of the lung

Two thirds of lung cancers are located centrally near the hilum and one-third peripherally. About one-third are squamous cell (epidermoid) carcinomas (Table 4.5). Chronic cough is the most common form of presentation of carcinoma of the lung and may present as a change in the pattern of a longstanding cough (alteration in frequency, severity or sputum production). The cough may also begin abruptly resembling foreign body obstruction or masquerade as an acute pneumonia that is slow to resolve. The onset is usually insidious, but when symptoms become established the principal complaints are productive cough, wheeze and haemoptysis.

Table 4.5 Pathological types of lung cancer

Type Percentage
Non-small cell lung cancer  
Squamous cell (epidermoid) carcinoma 35
Large cell carcinoma 20
Adenocarcinoma* 10
Mixed (adenosquamous) 5
Small cell lung cancer 30

* Only type unrelated to smoking

Asymptomatic patients often present because of an abnormal chest X-ray, with either a coin lesion or solitary pulmonary nodule (Table 4.6) or a mediastinal mass. There may be no physical signs on examination — or a variety of findings that include cervical lymphadenopathy, pulmonary collapse or consolidation, pleural effusion, localised wheeze or other signs of metastatic disease such as hepatomegaly. Tumours involving the apex of the lung may cause Pancoast’s syndrome because of involvement of the brachial plexus, sympathetic chain and sometimes destruction of ribs. Symptoms are pain and loss of strength in the arm and Horner’s syndrome on the involved side.

Table 4.6 Causes of coin lesion in the lung on chest X-ray

Disease Percentage
Bronchogenic carcinoma or bronchial adenoma 50
Metastatic carcinoma 10
Benign tumours (hamartoma or fibroma) 10
Granuloma (tuberculosis and histoplasmosis) 20
Miscellaneous (bronchogenic cyst, pulmonary sequestration, A-V malformation, pulmonary lymph node, residual pneumonia, pulmonary infarct, rheumatoid nodule, infected bulla, sclerosing haemangioma) 10

Other nonmetastatic manifestations are frequent, including: connective tissue syndromes such as scleroderma; hypertrophic pulmonary nonmetastatic, neurological syndromes such as myopathy and cerebellar degeneration; and endocrine effects associated with ectopic hormone production.

Diagnostic plans

Sputum cytology may reveal atypical cells consistent with lung carcinoma

Imaging

Chest X-ray. Posterior–anterior and lateral chest X-rays should be performed on all patients and compared with previous X-rays, if available (Fig 4.6). The X-ray findings in lung cancer are classified into hilar or parenchymal lesions. Cavitation may be seen, as well as peripheral atelectasis, collapse, pneumonia, erosion and pathological fracture of ribs, raised diaphragm, pleural effusion and hilar lymphadenopathy. The trachea may be compressed or deviated. The X-ray signs found after foreign body inhalation vary from normal to those of lobar collapse, pneumonia, abscess and empyema. The foreign body itself may be radio-opaque. Pulmonary tuberculosis nearly always involves only the apical and posterior segments of the upper lobes and the superior segment of the lower lobe. The lesions vary in appearance and include solid shadows, coin lesions, cavitation, fibrosis with streaking, spotted calcification, effusion and miliary change.

CT scan of the chest and upper abdomen is most useful for defining mediastinal lesions, detecting additional metastases and directing the needle for fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) studies (Fig 4.7).

Positron emission tomography (PET) scan allows the detection of regional lymph node and distant metastases. Up to 15% of patients thought to have surgically resectable disease have evidence of metastatic disease on PET scanning.

Endoscopic studies

Indirect laryngoscopy is indicated when an upper respiratory tract cause of cough, such as laryngitis or laryngeal carcinoma, is suspected.

Flexible fibre-optic or rigid bronchoscopy is performed when there is X-ray evidence of bronchial obstruction, unresolved pneumonia, foreign body or suspected carcinoma. Washings are obtained for cytological examination and bacterial or fungal culture, including examination for mycobacteria. Brush biopsies may be taken to diagnose more peripheral lesions in bronchopulmonary segments. Brushings and random biopsies and sputum cytology may lead to a positive diagnosis of lung cancer and tuberculosis in the absence of an obviously visible lesion.

Mediastinoscopy permits a retrosternal direct biopsy of the para-tracheal lymph nodes and nodes at the bifurcation of the trachea in order to stage disease and assess operability of lung cancer. Mediastinoscopy is also useful in diagnosising other causes of mediastinal node abnormality such as sarcoidosis, tuberculosis and other diffuse pulmonary diseases.

Left anterior mediastinotomy allows sampling of lymph nodes and masses in the region of the aorto-pulmonary window not accessed by mediastinoscopy.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic biopsy of the tumour mass or metastases may be required if the above investigations are negative or inconclusive.

Staging of non-small cell lung cancer is clinical and based upon descriptors of the size and location of the primary tumour (T), the spread to lymph nodes within the thorax (N) and to the presence or absence of distant metastases (M) (Box 4.2).

Box 4.2

TNM staging of lung cancer

Primary tumour (T)

Tis — Carcinoma in situ

TX — Positive malignant cytologic findings, no lesion observed

T1 — Diameter of 3 cm or smaller and surrounded by lung or visceral pleura or endobronchial tumour distal to the lobar bronchus

T2 — Diameter greater than 3 cm; extension to the visceral pleura, atelectasis or obstructive pneumopathy involving less than one lung; lobar endobronchial tumour; or tumour of a main bronchus more than 2 cm from the carina

T3 — Tumour at the apex; total atelectasis of one lung; endobronchial tumour of main bronchus within 2 cm of the carina but not invading it; or tumour of any size with direct extension to the adjacent structures such as the chest wall, mediastinal pleura, diaphragm, pericardium parietal layer or mediastinal fat of the phrenic nerve

T4 — Invasion of the mediastinal organs, including the oesophagus, trachea, carina, great vessels and/or heart; obstruction of the superior vena cava; involvement of a vertebral body; recurrent nerve involvement; malignant pleural or pericardial effusion; or satellite pulmonary nodules within the same lobe as the primary tumour

Regional lymph node involvement (N)

N0 — No lymph nodes involved

N1 — Ipsilateral bronchopulmonary or hilar nodes involved

N2 — Ipsilateral mediastinal nodes or ligament involved

N3 — Contralateral mediastinal or hilar nodes involved or any scalene or supraclavicular nodes involved

Metastatic involvement (M)

M0 — No metastases

M1 — Metastases present

TMN subgroups are grouped together into stages 0 to IV and these stages provide information about prognosis, allow a comparison of outcomes from different clinical series and also guide therapy (Boxes 4.3 and 4.4).

Treatment plan

2 Carcinoma of the lung

In all such patients respiratory function is assessed and the tumour staged before surgery. Thoracotomy is avoided in advanced disease and small-cell cancer. Lung cancer is frequently unresectable (in two-thirds of patients) because of regional lymph node involvement, malignant pleural effusion, laryngeal nerve paralysis, phrenic nerve paralysis, distant metastases, superior vena caval obstruction and involvement of the main pulmonary artery. Surgical treatment consists of thoracotomy with removal of the entire lung or lobe, along with regional lymph nodes and contiguous structures. Lobectomy is the procedure of choice in the patient with localised disease. Pneumonectomy is indicated in some of the more central localised lesions. Survival following ‘curative’ resection is approximately 30% at five years and 15% at 10 years. The best results are found in squamous cell carcinoma followed by large-cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. There are very few survivors of small-cell carcinoma beyond two years.

Radiotherapy may be ‘curative’ in patients with early stage disease who are unfit for surgical resection. However, the usual role for radiotherapy is in the palliation of pain from bony metastases, superior vena caval obstruction or haemoptysis. The combination of radiotherapy and platinum-based chemotherapy provide the best palliation for patients with good performance status and non-resectable disease.

Small cell cancers are best treated by multi-agent chemotherapy.

6 Less common causes

Upper respiratory tract. The chronic cough of laryngeal squamous carcinoma is often associated with hoarseness and feeling a lump in the throat. Prompt examination by indirect laryngoscopy is indicated. Precancerous lesions appearing as leucoplakia may be found and should be biopsied. Allergic rhinitis or chronic sinusitis with postnasal drip can also present with chronic cough.

Lower respiratory tract. Subclinical asthma may present with cough as an early manifestation and as a prelude to acute asthmatic attacks. A tendency to develop asthmatic wheezing may be revealed by having a patient breathe rapidly. Reversible airway obstruction found on pulmonary function testing may be the first sign of asthma in some patients with chronic cough. Nocturnal chronic cough may be the presenting complaint in patients with reflux oesophagitis, achalasia and pharyngeal pouch and is secondary to nocturnal regurgitation and pulmonary aspiration.

Chronic cough at night is also a typical early symptom of pulmonary congestion caused by left ventricular heart failure or mitral stenosis, often a few hours after going to sleep. Cough is often, but not always, associated with paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea.

Psychogenic cough usually has an artificial character — being explosive, loud and spasmodic in pattern. Psychogenic cough is nearly always nonproductive and does not occur while asleep. Chest examination is normal, as is the chest X-ray.

HIV/AIDS is an increasingly common cause of respiratory infection and chronic cough. The finding of pneumocystis infection should make one suspect the diagnosis. Associated clinical manifestations can be protean.

4.5 Chest wall problems

These may affect any of the individual layers of the chest wall.

Clinical presentation and management plans