Bronchogenic carcinoma

1

• Leading cause of cancer death
• Non-surgical disease at IIIB and worse, i.e. T4 or N3 makes case non-surgical

Adenocarcinioma (50%)

• Peripheral location
• Weakest association with smoking
• Can arise from scar, scar carcinoma
• Subtype Bronchoalveolar cell carcinoma (BAC)

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (30%)

• Central location
• Cavitation can occur
• Strong smoking association
• Fast growing
• In young non-smokers, may be related to HPV and papillomatosis

Small Cell (15%)

• Central perihilar mass
• Paraneoplastic syndrome
• SVC syndrome
• Grows fast, spreads early

Large Cell (5%)

• Large, peripheral

Also

• Bronchial carcinoid makes up 90% of lung low grade malignancy
• Pulmonary lymphoma - often in immunocompromised