APPROACHES IN DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF PANCOAST TUMOR (SUPERIOR SULCUS): MINI - REVIEW B ilal Aslam * , Ahmad Raza, Ijaz Javed , Tanweer Khaliq , Faqir Muhammad, Junaid Ali Khan, Asghar Ali, Shamshad - Ul - Hassan

Cancer is a Persistent , Purposel ess and Proliferative growth which is a leading cause of death worldwide. Amongst all cancers lung cancer is most important world widely which is divided into small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non - small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Pancoast tumors (PTs) are p rimary lung carcinomas arising from the apex of the lung and are generally located in the superior pulmonary sulcus. In most cases, PTs are NSCLCs, most commonly squamous cell with prevalence of 52%, followed by adenocarcinomas and large cell carcinomas as 23% and 20% respectively; only about 5% of PTs are of small cell origin. PT cause characteristic symptoms, such as arm, shoulder, radicular pain and muscle weakness in the distributions of C8, T1, and T2 nerve roots. PTs are very difficult to diagnosis ea rly on stage. Different diagnostic tools like radio graphs (X - rays), Computed Tomography (CT) scans, bronchoscopy, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and biopsy. Traditional treatment of PTs includes localized approaches like chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surg ery (anterior or posterior approach) or combination of these . Keywords: Cancer, Lungs , Pancoast Tumors , SCLC, NSCLC, CT Scan , MRI