How to diagnose early lung cancer

How to diagnose early lung cancer? Lung cancer cases present various clinical symptoms and X-ray signs according to the location of the tumor, pathological type, and early or late course of the disease, which can be easily confused with other lung diseases. Therefore, differential diagnosis of lung cancer, especially early cases, is of great significance for early diagnosis and early treatment.

Early detection and early diagnosis of lung cancer should do the following:

(1) Popularize knowledge on lung cancer prevention and treatment, and let the general public know the early symptoms of lung cancer, such as persistent cough, hemoptysis, and chest pain, especially for those over 40 years old.

(2) For patients with chronic cough, the cough turns into an irritating dry cough with blood in the sputum, or pneumonia recurs in a certain lobe or segment of the lung.

(3) Patients with pulmonary tuberculosis who have not responded to regular anti-tuberculosis treatment and whose X-rays show progressive enlargement of the lesion shadows, segmental pneumonia, atelectasis, or eccentric cavitation.

(4) High-risk groups, such as long-term smokers, industrial and mining workers, those with long-term exposure to radioactive substances, and those with a family history of cancer, should be included in the key population for lung cancer screening and should be examined once every six months to one year.

(5) Patients with non-specific systemic skin, neurological, and endocrine manifestations, such as hypertrophic osteoarthritis, clubbing of fingers (toes), and myasthenia gravis.

(6) Actively popularize knowledge on the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer: ① Comprehensive and detailed physical examination, such as localized dry or moist rales in the lungs and extrapulmonary symptoms of lung cancer; ② Chest X-ray manifestations of early lung cancer: localized emphysema, obstructive pneumonia, etc.; ③ Examination of sputum cancer cells; ④ Fiberoptic bronchoscopy, serum examination, and chest examination when necessary.