title: Preneoplastic lesions of the lung.
abstract: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. If we can define and detect preneoplastic lesions, we might have a chance of improving survival. The World Health Organization has defined three preneoplastic lesions of the bronchial epithelium: squamous dysplasia/carcinoma in situ; atypical adenomatous hyperplasia; and diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia. These lesions are believed to progress to squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and carcinoid tumors, respectively. In this review we summarize the data supporting the preneoplastic nature of these lesions, and delve into some of the genetic changes found in atypical adenomatous hyperplasia and squamous dysplasia/carcinoma in situ.
authors: Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA. alissa.greenberg@med.nyu.edu
authors: Alissa K
authors: AK
authors: Greenberg
authors: Herman
authors: H
authors: Yee
authors: William N
authors: WN
authors: Rom
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology