Deck 13: Epidemiology of Lung Cancer

Question 1

Worldwide, lung cancer causes 1.76 million deaths annually, more than double that of any other form of cancer.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Tobacco smoking is responsible for nearly 90% of all lung cancer cases.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Unequivocal scientific evidence linking cigarette smoking to the development of lung cancer was published during the 1950s.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

In the past few decades, adenocarcinoma has replaced squamous cell carcinoma as the primary cell type of lung cancer.

Question 5

Chronic exposure to radon gas has been found to increase the risk of developing lung cancer.

Question 6

Inhalation of asbestos fibers independently increases the risk of developing mesothelioma in nonsmokers.

Question 7

Inhalation of wood smoke independently increases the risk of developing lung cancer in nonsmokers.

Question 8

Chemotherapy has improved lung cancer survival in recent years.

Question 9

Regular intake of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in smokers may reduce their risk of developing lung cancer.

Question 10

Smoking cessation immediately reduces the risk of lung cancer.

Question 11

Approximately what fraction of men in the world population smokes?

A) 1/5
B) 1/4
C) 1/3
D) 1/2

Question 12

What is the approximate population attributable risk for lung cancer and tobacco smoking?

A) 95%
B) 87%
C) 67%
D) 50%

Question 13

Risk factors for lung cancer other than tobacco smoking include all of the following except:

A) exposure to radon gas.
B) exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.
C) exposure to wood smoke.
D) heavy alcohol consumption.

Question 14

The average development time of lung cancer is approximately:

A) 5 years.
B) 10 years.
C) 15 years.
D) 20 years.

Question 15

Pulmonary adenocarcinoma has replaced squamous cell carcinoma as the major lung cancer cell type due to:

A) smoking of high yield nonfilter cigarettes.
B) smoking of low yield nonfilter cigarettes.
C) smoking of high yield filter cigarettes.
D) smoking of low yield filter cigarettes.

Question 16

The British Physician Study of daily aspirin intake (500 mg) showed that:

A) aspirin reduced lung cancer mortality.
B) aspirin increased lung cancer mortality.
C) aspirin had no effect on lung cancer mortality.
D) participants did not comply with the treatment protocol.

Question 17

The Japanese Paradox refers to:

A) low rates of lung cancer among Japanese men despite high rates of smoking.
B) high rates of lung cancer among Japanese men despite low rates of smoking.
C) low rates of lung cancer among Japanese men despite high rates of alcohol abuse.
D) high rates of lung cancer among Japanese men despite low rates of alcohol abuse.

Question 18

Explanations for the Japanese Paradox include all of the following except:

A) low content of carcinogens in Japanese cigarettes.
B) charcoal filters in Japanese cigarettes.
C) consumption of a low-fat diet with abundant fish oil.
D) high rates of alcohol abuse.

Question 19

There is recent evidence that screening for lung cancer may be enhanced by:

A) dual X-ray studies of the lungs.
B) spiral computerized tomography of the lungs.
C) cytopathology studies of lung sputum.
D) stereotactic lung biopsies.

Question 20

Approximately what fraction of lung cancer cases among nonsmokers is attributable to "passive smoking"?

A) 3/4
B) 1/2
C) 1/3
D) 1/4

Question 21

Describe the global burden of lung cancer.

Question 22

Discuss findings of early epidemiologic investigations of lung cancer and smoking.

Question 23

Discuss lung cancer risk factors other than tobacco smoking.

Question 24

Discuss the "Japanese Lung Cancer Paradox."

Question 25

Discuss the burden of lung cancer in the United States and the trend in lung cancer mortality among US women since 1950.

Question 26

Why would intake of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin decrease the risk of lung cancer development in smokers?

Question 27

Discuss survival statistics for lung cancer cases diagnosed in the USA.

Question 28

Discuss strategies for the primary prevention of lung cancer.