Screen-detected adenocarcinoma of the lung. Practical points for surgical pathologists.
Recent technological advances in thoracic radiology and surgery have altered the types of lung specimens handled by cytologists and surgical pathologists. Increasing numbers of individuals with small peripheral adenocarcinomas undergo minimally invasive diagnostic procedures and, in some instances, minimally invasive surgical procedures. The pathologist's role in early lung adenocarcinoma research is central, as clinical and investigational studies depend more than ever on subtle pathologic distinctions. Establishing a diagnosis of malignant neoplasm on samples from fine-needle aspiration, core biopsy, or frozen section is fraught with new considerations, and surgically resected adenocarcinomas must be typed according to the recently revised World Health Organization classification. Familiarity with small glandular proliferations, including the putative precursor lesion atypical adenomatous hyperplasia, will prevent misdiagnoses and untoward impact on tumor staging, therapy, and outcome studies.
Flieder
Douglas B
DB
Dept of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Starr 1015, 525 E 68th St, New York, NY 10021, USA.
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D008403:Mass Screening; D010340:Pathology, Surgical / Q000379:methods*