Brs pathology

t a b l e

14-6

Tumors of the Lung

type

Location

Squamous cell carcinoma

Central

Adenocarcinoma

Peripheral

Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma

Peripheral

Small cell carcinoma

Central

Large cell carcinoma

Peripheral

Carcinoid tumor

Major bronchi

Carcinoma metastatic to the lung

characteristics
Appears as a hilar mass and frequently results in cavitation;
clearly linked to smoking; may be marked by inappropriate
parathyroid hormone (PTH)-like activity with resultant
hypercalcemia
Most common type in women, never-smokers; develops on site of
prior pulmonary inflammation or injury (scar carcinoma); associated
with EGFR mutations
Variant of adenocarcinoma, characterized by columnar-tocuboidal tumor cells lining alveolar walls (lepidic growth); multiple
densities on x-ray, mimicking pneumonia
Undifferentiated tumor; most aggressive bronchogenic carcinoma; least
likely form to be cured by surgery; usually already metastatic at
diagnosis; often associated with ectopic production of
corticotrophin (ACTH) or antidiuretic hormone (ADH); incidence
greatly increased in smokers
Undifferentiated tumor; may show features of squamous cell or
adenocarcinoma on electron microscopy
Indolent neuroendocrine tumor which does not typically
metastasize but may spread by direct extension Higher
incidence than primary lung cancer