Non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer represents a heterogeneous group of lung cancers that do not have "small cells" on histology. They are thus separated, as small cell carcinoma of the lung has distinctive management implications. The major histological types include:

• adenocarcinoma of lung
• squamous cell carcinoma of the lung
• large cell carcinoma of the lung

Other less common types of non-small cell lung cancers include:

• adenosquamous carcinoma of the lung
• sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung
  • pleomorphic carcinoma of the lung 
  • spindle cell carcinoma of the lung
  • giant cell carcinoma of the lung
  • carcinosarcoma of the lung
  • pulmonary blastoma
• carcinoid tumors of the lung
• carcinomas of the lung of salivary gland type ⁶
  • adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of lung
  • mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) of lung
  • epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of the lung

In addition, a new category of preinvasive lesions and minimally invasive lesions has also been created, as patients in this category will have a favorable response to treatment. This category includes:

• squamous dysplasia of lung
• squamous cell carcinoma in situ (CIS) of lung
• atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH) of lung
• adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) of the lung (non-mucinous, mucinous, or mixed non-mucinous/mucinous)
• minimally invasive adenocarcinoma of the lung (MIA)
• diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH): a precursor lesion to carcinoid tumors

Specific genetic subtypes

• anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion oncogene positive non-small cell lung cancer

All of these entities will be discussed separately in the respective articles.