Clinical and therapeutic aspects of Pancoast Tumor: A bibliographic review
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Copyright (c) 2025 Marlon Moreira Morán, Fiorella Castillo Cruz, Ana Noriega Cabrita
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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https://doi.org/10.33821/761Keywords:
Pancoast syndrome, lung cancer, combined modality therapy, chemoradiotherapyAbstract
Introduction: Pancoast tumor (PT) is a rare and challenging form of lung cancer located at the pulmonary apex. Although it represents only 3 to 5% of all lung cancers, it poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Objective: To identify and analyze the most recent clinical and therapeutic aspects of PT. Materials and Methods: We conducted a descriptive bibliographic review using databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar. We examined thirty-nine articles published between 2014 and 2024. Results: PT accounts for 3% to 5% of lung cancers, predominantly in male smokers. Clinically, it is associated with distinctive symptoms such as shoulder pain, Horner's syndrome, and muscle atrophy of the hand. Radiographic presentation and symptom similarity with other diseases complicate diagnosis. Discussion: Patients often confuse the clinical manifestation of pain from PT with other pathologies, underscoring the importance of a thorough differential diagnosis. The trimodal treatment combining surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy remains the standard, although the development of less invasive techniques improves outcomes. The use of proton therapy and 3D-CRT optimizes the resectability of the tumor and enhances the postoperative quality of life. Conclusion: Despite advancements, early diagnosis of PT remains challenging due to its deceptive symptoms. The trimodal approach has significantly improved survival expectations, although the side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy persist. Future research could focus on biological agents and immunotherapy to offer more effective personalized treatments.
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