Small Cell Lung Cancer is a fast-growing form of lung cancer that typically starts in the bronchi. It is known for small cells that quickly multiply, forming large tumors.
Other symptoms may include dermatomyositis, Horner's syndrome (Pancoast tumour), hypercalcemia, hypertrophic osteoarthropathy with clubbing of the fingers, and blood clots (Washington et al., 2020).
Origin and Cell Type: SCLC typically begins in the cells that line the bronchi, which are the large airways leading from the windpipe into the lungs. The cancer cells are small, round, and resemble oat grains, which is why SCLC is also known as oat cell carcinoma (CCS, n.d.; NCI, 2023).
Growth and Spread: A hallmark of SCLC is its rapid growth and early spread (metastasis) to other parts of the body, often before symptoms appear. Unlike non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which tends to progress more slowly, SCLC tends to metastasize early, commonly affecting the brain, liver, adrenal glands, and bones (NCI, 2023).
Image Credit: Lung Cancer Research Foundation