Dr. Köksal Yurda Eken

The treatment decision for lung cancer depends on the extent of the tumor as well as its type. Staging aims to determine how far the disease has progressed within the lung and whether it has reached the lymph nodes in the middle part of the chest cavity.

Tomography and metabolic imaging are used in the evaluation when necessary. However, imaging alone is not always sufficient. Therefore, it may be necessary to take samples from lymph nodes.

Sampling is done by endoscopic methods or a surgical procedure called mediastinoscopy. The information obtained directly changes the direction of treatment as it determines whether the patient will undergo surgery directly or whether medication or radiation therapy will be applied first.

The aim of lung surgery is to preserve healthy lung tissue as much as possible while removing all diseased tissue. This directly affects post-operative respiratory capacity.

Some tumors are located at the beginning of the main airway or vein. In this case, instead of removing the entire lung, the retained airway section can be removed and the ends can be stitched together. This approach, called sleeve resection, ensures the preservation of lung tissue in appropriately selected patients.

Which surgery is suitable. It is determined by evaluating the location and stage of the tumor, the patient's respiratory capacity and heart condition. Preoperative respiratory function tests are an essential part of this decision.

Pneumothorax is the escape of air into the space between the lung and the chest wall and partial or complete collapse of the lung. Sudden onset of chest pain and shortness of breath are typical symptoms.

Some of them occur without any obvious reason, especially in tall and thinly built young people. Some of them are due to lung diseases or chest trauma. Diagnosis is made by chest radiography and, when necessary, tomography.

Treatment varies depending on the amount of air and the severity of the complaint. In cases that are minor and do not cause any complaints, follow-up may be sufficient. In obvious cases, a chest tube is placed. Surgery is considered in recurrent cases.