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Molecular Pathology of Lung Cancer pp 71–74Cite as

Revised Classification for Adenocarcinoma

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Part of the book series: Molecular Pathology Library ((MPLB,volume 6))

Abstract

A new International Multidisciplinary Classification of Lung Adenocarcinoma, published in early 2011, has been proposed by The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, the American Thoracic Society, and the European Respiratory Society published. This proposed classification includes several important differences from the current World Health Organization (WHO) Thoracic Tumor Classification and integrates histologic criteria with clinical, oncologic, radiologic, molecular, and surgical findings with a goal of creating a classification and terminology that is clinically relevant. The focus is on adenocarcinoma since this is the most common and complicated of the lung cancer cell types. Important aspects of this proposal are the concepts of adenocarcinoma-in-situ (formerly bronchioloalveolar carcinoma) and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma. The proposed classification includes recommendations on classifying resected adenocarcinomas by the predominant tumor pattern and addresses emerging issues about the distinction between adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in small diagnostic samples. The proposed new classification recommends classifying invasive adenocarcinomas by their predominant histologic pattern and, in resection specimens, reporting the semiquantitative percentages of each histologic subtype that are present in 5% increments. There are five patterns for diagnosis of invasive adenocarcinoma: lepidic predominant, acinar predominant, papillary predominant and solid predominant, reflecting histologic patterns previously recognized by the WHO, as well as a new category of micropapillary predominant.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, The Methodist Hospital, 6565 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Philip T. Cagle MD

  2. Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA

    Philip T. Cagle MD

  3. Department of Pathology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen University Medical School, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB25 2ZD, UK

    Keith M. Kerr MD, FRCPath

Authors
  1. Philip T. Cagle MD
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  2. Keith M. Kerr MD, FRCPath
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Philip T. Cagle MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Pathology, The Methodist Hospital, 6565 Fannin Street, Houston, 77030, Texas, USA

    Philip T. Cagle

  2. Health Science Center at Tyler, Department of Pathology, The University of Texas, 11937 US Highway 271, Tyler, 75708, Texas, USA

    Timothy Craig Allen

  3. , Department of Pathology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, 10029, New York, USA

    Mary Beth Beasley

  4. , Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St., Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Lucian R. Chirieac

  5. Medical Center, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop St. - PUH C608, Pittsburgh, 15213, Pennsylvania, USA

    Sanja Dacic

  6. Medical Center, Department of Pathology &, Columbia University, 630 W. 168th Street VC-14-215, New York, 10032, New York, USA

    Alain C. Borczuk

  7. Medical School, Department of Pathology, Aberdeen University, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB25 2ZD, United Kingdom

    Keith M. Kerr

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© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Cagle, P.T., Kerr, K.M. (2012). Revised Classification for Adenocarcinoma. In: Cagle, P., et al. Molecular Pathology of Lung Cancer. Molecular Pathology Library, vol 6. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3197-8_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3197-8_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-3196-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-3197-8

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