Final answer:
Pancoast tumors present with respiratory symptoms like cough and hemoptysis as well as symptoms related to the invasion of nearby structures, such as Horner syndrome, and pain from brachial plexus involvement.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pancoast Tumor Symptoms
A Pancoast tumor, also known as a superior sulcus tumor, often presents with two distinct sets of symptoms due to its localization at the apex of the lung. The first set involves classic respiratory symptoms such as cough, hemoptysis (coughing up blood), and shortness of breath. The second set includes symptoms related to the invasion of nearby structures, most prominently the Horner syndrome, which is characterized by ptosis (drooping of the eyelid), miosis (constricted pupil), anhidrosis (lack of sweating), and enophthalmos (sunken eyeball). Alongside these, patients may also experience pain in the shoulder, arm, or hand, and neurological symptoms due to compression or invasion of the brachial plexus and nearby sympathetic ganglia
Other signs and symptoms associated with a Pancoast tumor might include unusual lumps or swelling at the tumor site, enlarged lymph nodes, and systemic symptoms such as weight loss, fatigue, and cachexia. These systemic symptoms may indicate a more advanced stage of disease. Due to the proximity of these tumors to the top of the lung, they can affect adjacent areas leading to specific clinical manifestations that differ from tumors in other parts of the lung.