Final answer:
The statement that pulmonary symptoms typically occur early in Pancoast tumors is false. Early symptoms are often non-pulmonary and can include shoulder and arm pain, with pulmonary symptoms appearing later as the disease progresses.
Step-by-step explanation:
True or False: Pulmonary symptoms typically occur early in the course of disease for Pancoast tumors. The statement is False. Pancoast tumors, a subset of non-small cell lung cancers, are located at the top of the lung (apex) and typically do not cause pulmonary symptoms until late in their progression. Early symptoms often involve structures adjacent to the lung such as the shoulder, arm, and nerves, leading to pain and muscle weakness (Pancoast syndrome). These tumors can cause a distinctive set of symptoms known as Horner's syndrome (ptosis, miosis, anhidrosis, and enophthalmos) due to the invasion or compression of the sympathetic ganglia.
Pulmonary symptoms such as coughing, hemoptysis, and dyspnea are more often associated with central lung cancers that affect the main airways. By the time Pancoast tumors exhibit pulmonary symptoms, they are typically at an advanced stage.