AIMS: To compare the preoperative classification of lung carcinoma made on cytological and histological specimens with the postoperative classification made on the resected specimen. In addition, to find out how often the term "non-small cell lung cancer, not otherwise specified" (NSCLC) was used, and in such cases to note the final diagnosis. METHODS: Between 1991 and 1995, 303 patients had a lung resection in Aberdeen for primary carcinoma. For each patient, the departmental records were examined for preoperative specimens (cytological and histological). A note was made of whether each specimen was positive or negative for malignancy and, if positive, what the cell type was. Where patients had more than one sample submitted, the most specific result was taken. RESULTS: Fifty four per cent of patients had a correct specific preoperative diagnosis of malignancy, whereas 34% were labelled as NSCLC. Patients with squamous carcinoma were more likely to have a diagnosis of malignancy (88%) that was specifically correct (75%). Patients who had adenocarcinoma were less likely to have a preoperative diagnosis of malignancy (64%) that was specifically correct (35%). For those in whom a diagnosis of NSCLC was made, 55% turned out to have adenocarcinoma whereas 24% had squamous carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: By adhering strictly to criteria, a high accuracy of diagnosis can be achieved for squamous carcinoma, but the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma seems to be more of a challenge. NSCLC is a useful and appropriate classification, the use of which reduces the rate of inaccurate specific diagnosis. There are occasions when pathologists can provide a more accurate diagnosis by being less precise.
AIMS: To compare the preoperative classification of lung carcinoma made on cytological and histological specimens with the postoperative classification made on the resected specimen. In addition, to find out how often the term "non-small cell lung cancer, not otherwise specified" (NSCLC) was used, and in such cases to note the final diagnosis. METHODS: Between 1991 and 1995, 303 patients had a lung resection in Aberdeen for primary carcinoma. For each patient, the departmental records were examined for preoperative specimens (cytological and histological). A note was made of whether each specimen was positive or negative for malignancy and, if positive, what the cell type was. Where patients had more than one sample submitted, the most specific result was taken. RESULTS: Fifty four per cent of patients had a correct specific preoperative diagnosis of malignancy, whereas 34% were labelled as NSCLC. Patients with squamous carcinoma were more likely to have a diagnosis of malignancy (88%) that was specifically correct (75%). Patients who had adenocarcinoma were less likely to have a preoperative diagnosis of malignancy (64%) that was specifically correct (35%). For those in whom a diagnosis of NSCLC was made, 55% turned out to have adenocarcinoma whereas 24% had squamous carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: By adhering strictly to criteria, a high accuracy of diagnosis can be achieved for squamous carcinoma, but the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma seems to be more of a challenge. NSCLC is a useful and appropriate classification, the use of which reduces the rate of inaccurate specific diagnosis. There are occasions when pathologists can provide a more accurate diagnosis by being less precise.
Authors: R A Burnett; S R Howatson; S Lang; F D Lee; A M Lessells; K M McLaren; E R Nairn; S Ogston; A J Robertson; J G Simpson; G D Smith; H B Tavadia; F Walker Journal: J Clin Pathol Date: 1996-02 Impact factor: 3.411
Authors: J S Thomas; D Lamb; T Ashcroft; B Corrin; C W Edwards; A R Gibbs; W E Kenyon; R J Stephens; W F Whimster Journal: Thorax Date: 1993-11 Impact factor: 9.139
Authors: R A Burnett; J Swanson Beck; S R Howatson; F D Lee; A M Lessells; K M McLaren; S Ogston; A J Robertson; J G Simpson; G D Smith Journal: J Clin Pathol Date: 1994-08 Impact factor: 3.411
Authors: T Tanaka; M Yamamoto; T Tamura; Y Moritani; M Miyai; S Hiraki; T Ohnoshi; I Kimura Journal: Acta Med Okayama Date: 1983-02 Impact factor: 0.892
Authors: William D Travis; Elisabeth Brambilla; Masayuki Noguchi; Andrew G Nicholson; Kim Geisinger; Yasushi Yatabe; Yuichi Ishikawa; Ignacio Wistuba; Douglas B Flieder; Wilbur Franklin; Adi Gazdar; Philip S Hasleton; Douglas W Henderson; Keith M Kerr; Iver Petersen; Victor Roggli; Erik Thunnissen; Ming Tsao Journal: Arch Pathol Lab Med Date: 2012-09-12 Impact factor: 5.534
Authors: William D Travis; Elisabeth Brambilla; Masayuki Noguchi; Andrew G Nicholson; Kim R Geisinger; Yasushi Yatabe; David G Beer; Charles A Powell; Gregory J Riely; Paul E Van Schil; Kavita Garg; John H M Austin; Hisao Asamura; Valerie W Rusch; Fred R Hirsch; Giorgio Scagliotti; Tetsuya Mitsudomi; Rudolf M Huber; Yuichi Ishikawa; James Jett; Montserrat Sanchez-Cespedes; Jean-Paul Sculier; Takashi Takahashi; Masahiro Tsuboi; Johan Vansteenkiste; Ignacio Wistuba; Pan-Chyr Yang; Denise Aberle; Christian Brambilla; Douglas Flieder; Wilbur Franklin; Adi Gazdar; Michael Gould; Philip Hasleton; Douglas Henderson; Bruce Johnson; David Johnson; Keith Kerr; Keiko Kuriyama; Jin Soo Lee; Vincent A Miller; Iver Petersen; Victor Roggli; Rafael Rosell; Nagahiro Saijo; Erik Thunnissen; Ming Tsao; David Yankelewitz Journal: J Thorac Oncol Date: 2011-02 Impact factor: 15.609
Authors: Erik Thunnissen; Evan Boers; Daniëlle A M Heideman; Katrien Grünberg; Dirk J Kuik; Arnold Noorduin; Matthijs van Oosterhout; Divera Pronk; Cees Seldenrijk; Hannie Sietsma; Egbert F Smit; Robertjan van Suylen; Jan von der Thusen; Bart Vrugt; Anne Wiersma; Birgit I Witte; Michael den Bakker Journal: Virchows Arch Date: 2012-10-12 Impact factor: 4.064