Geriatric Oncology

Abstract

An elderly gentelman visited my clinic with history of gradually worsening shortness of breath. He had been feeling unwell for last few weeks, with poor appetite, fatigue and a nagging pain in low back. He was a light smoker in the past, and has been on treatment for coronary artery disease, having had a PTCA 6 years back, and oral antidiabetic agents for management of diabetes. Despite these comorbidities, he had been leading an active post retirement life. His cardiologist suggested an X ray of chest which showed a large left sided pleural effusion, with normal cardiac function on echocardiogram. He was referred to Pulmonologist, who had to perform a thoracoscopy to arrive at a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of left lung, with extensive pleural surface deposits. Further evaluation showed contralateral lung nodule, multiple mediastinal node enlargement, right adrenal deposit and at least 3 bone metastasis. Segment VI of liver showed two metastatic nodules.