What causes space-occupying lesions in the right upper lobe of the lung?

Speaking of space-occupying lesions in the right upper lobe, I believe many friends know that this is lung cancer. The appearance of cancer is like the coming of the god of death, making many patients feel at a loss. In order to minimize the occurrence of space-occupying lesions in the right upper lobe, please be sure to understand the causes of space-occupying lesions in the right upper lobe, and pay attention to avoid these situations in daily life, so as to reduce the possibility of suffering from space-occupying lesions in the right upper lobe.

1. Smoking

Smoking is currently considered to be the most important high-risk factor for lung cancer. There are more than 3,000 chemical substances in tobacco, among which polychain aromatic hydrocarbons (such as benzopyrene) and nitrosamines have strong carcinogenic activity. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nitrosamines can cause DNA damage in bronchial epithelial cells through a variety of mechanisms, leading to the activation of oncogenes (such as Ras genes) and the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes (such as p53, FHIT genes, etc.), thereby causing cell transformation and ultimately cancer.

2. Occupational and environmental exposure

Lung cancer is the most important occupational cancer. It is estimated that about 10% of lung cancer patients have a history of environmental and occupational exposure. It has been proven that the following nine occupational environmental carcinogens increase the incidence of lung cancer: aluminum byproducts, arsenic, asbestos, bis-chloromethylether, chromium compounds, coke ovens, mustard gas, nickel-containing impurities, and vinyl chloride. Long-term exposure to substances such as beryllium, cadmium, silicon, and formalin can also increase the incidence of lung cancer. Air pollution, especially industrial waste gas, can cause lung cancer.

3. Ionizing radiation

The lungs are an organ that is more sensitive to radiation. The initial evidence that ionizing radiation causes lung cancer came from data from the Schneeberg-Joakimov mine, where the concentration of radon and its progeny in the air was high, mostly inducing small cell carcinoma of the bronchus. It has been reported in the United States that 70% to 80% of miners who mined radioactive ores died from occupational lung cancer caused by radiation, mainly squamous cell carcinoma. The time from the initial exposure to the onset of the disease was 10 to 45 years, with an average time of 25 years, and the average age of onset was 38 years. The incidence rate begins to increase when the accumulated dose of radon and its progeny exceeds 120 working level days (WLM), and increases more significantly by 20 to 30 times when it exceeds 1800 WLM. Exposing mice to gases and dust from these mines can induce lung tumors. There has been a significant increase in lung cancer cases among survivors of the atomic bomb explosion in Japan. Beebe found in the lifelong follow-up of the survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bomb explosion that the survivors who were less than 1400m from the explosion center had a significantly higher rate of death from lung cancer than the survivors who were 1400-1900m or more than 2000m away from the explosion center.

4. Previous chronic lung infection

In patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, etc., the bronchial epithelium may metaplasia into squamous epithelium and cause cancer during chronic infection, but this is relatively rare.

In addition to the above-mentioned factors that may cause space-occupying lesions in the right upper lobe, heredity and air pollution are the main causes of space-occupying lesions in the right upper lobe. Of course, some major factors are beyond our control, but factors like smoking are something we can avoid. Therefore, for the sake of our health, it is recommended that you smoke less in normal times.