Lung cancer: the pathologist's role in management.
The prognosis of lung cancer is poor, although there is hope for improvement based on early detection through cytologic screening and the use of newer treatment protocols. Although there are difficulties inherent in classifying tumors by type on the basis of very small samples of lesions that are not necessarily homogeneous, the pathologist should use a standard classification that sets forth definite criteria for the differentiated types. Among the common tumors, a small, well-differentiated epidermoid carcinoma with no evidence of lymph node involvement has the most favorable prognosis, and a small-cell anaplastic or oat cell carcinoma the worst. Results of therapy for tumors of other types show much variation. Future studies of lung cancer should include careful clinical staging and, when resection is done, pathologic staging. More study of the immunomorphology of lymph nodes is needed, as this may provide highly useful prognostic information.
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors