Large cell lung cancer
Updates to Article Attributes
Large cell carcinoma of the lung is one of the histological type of non-small cell carcinomas of the lung.
Epidemiology
It is thought to account for approximately 10% of bronchogenic carcinoma 1.
Clinical presentation
Patient presents with dyspnea, chronic cough and haemoptysis.
Pathology
Microscopically large cell carcinoma is characterised by large nuclei/nucleoli with moderate amount of cytoplasm, hence the name large cell carcinoma. This undifferentiated tumour lacks distinctive features of small cell carcinoma, glandular or squamous differentiation. A histological subtype is large cell neuroendoicrine carcinoma 3.
On immunophenotyping charasteristic features include 2:
- loss of staining with CK5/6
- CK14 positive in most squamous cellcarcinoma (SCC)
- lack of MOC 31 positive in most adenocarcinomas
- positive immunoreactivity to EGFR, PDGFR-alpha and c-kit.
Radiographic features
Large cell carcinoma of the lung typically presents as a large peripheral mass of solid attenuation and irregular margin. Focal necrosis can be present. Other characteristics include rapid growth and early metastasis.
Treatment and prognosis
The histologic subtype of large cell neuroendocrine tumour has a more aggressive pattern and is associated with poorer prognosis.
-<p><strong>Large cell carcinoma of the lung</strong> is one of the histological type of <a href="/articles/non-small-cell-lung-cancer">non-small cell carcinomas of the lung</a>.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>It is thought to account for approximately 10% of <a href="/articles/bronchogenic-carcinoma">bronchogenic carcinoma</a> <sup>1</sup>.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Patient presents with dyspnea, chronic cough and <a title="Haemoptysis" href="/articles/hemoptysis">haemoptysis</a>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Microscopically large cell carcinoma is characterised by large nuclei/nucleoli with moderate amount of cytoplasm, hence the name large cell carcinoma. This undifferentiated tumour lacks distinctive features of small cell carcinoma, glandular or squamous differentiation. A histological subtype is <a href="/articles/large-cell-neuroendoicrine-carcinoma">large cell neuroendoicrine carcinoma</a> <sup>3</sup>.</p><p>On immunophenotyping charasteristic features include <sup>2</sup></p><ul>- +<p><strong>Large cell carcinoma of the lung</strong> is one of the histological type of <a href="/articles/non-small-cell-lung-cancer">non-small cell carcinomas of the lung</a>.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>It is thought to account for approximately 10% of <a href="/articles/lung-cancer-3">bronchogenic carcinoma</a> <sup>1</sup>.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Patient presents with dyspnea, chronic cough and <a href="/articles/haemoptysis-1">haemoptysis</a>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Microscopically large cell carcinoma is characterised by large nuclei/nucleoli with moderate amount of cytoplasm, hence the name large cell carcinoma. This undifferentiated tumour lacks distinctive features of small cell carcinoma, glandular or squamous differentiation. A histological subtype is <a href="/articles/large-cell-neuroendoicrine-carcinoma">large cell neuroendoicrine carcinoma</a> <sup>3</sup>.</p><p>On immunophenotyping charasteristic features include <sup>2</sup>:</p><ul>
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.