Abstract
Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death worldwide, of which adenocarcinomas are the most common histologic subtype. On computed tomography, lung adenocarcinoma may show both solid and ground-glass components. The solid component often corresponds to invasive growth, while the ground-glass component corresponds to lepidic or in situ growth. Differentiating between lepidic-predominant invasive adenocarcinoma and adenocarcinoma in situ can pose a diagnostic challenge. Invasion is defined as any histologic pattern other than lepidic, such as acinar, papillary, micropapillary, or solid; however, distinguishing some of these patterns from lepidic growth may be difficult and somewhat subjective. Aside from histologic pattern, invasion may also be defined by extension into the lymphatics, blood vessels, and/or visceral pleura. Accurate diagnosis of invasive versus in situ lesions is important, as invasive disease may necessitate more aggressive management.
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Liou, S., Fishbein, G.A. (2022). Invasive Adenocarcinoma Versus Adenocarcinoma In Situ. In: Xu, H., Ricciotti, R.W., Mantilla, J.G. (eds) Practical Lung Pathology. Practical Anatomic Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-14402-8_6
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