Frank C Detterbeck1, Edith M Marom2, Douglas A Arenberg3, Wilbur A Franklin4, Andrew G Nicholson5, William D Travis6, Nicolas Girard7, Peter J Mazzone8, Jessica S Donington9, Lynn T Tanoue10, Valerie W Rusch11, Hisao Asamura12, Ramón Rami-Porta13. 1. Department of Surgery, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. Electronic address: frank.detterbeck@yale.edu. 2. Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Gan, Israel. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 4. Department of Pathology, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado. 5. Department of Histopathology, Royal Brompton and Harefield National Health Service Foundation Trust and Imperial College, London, United Kingdom. 6. Department of Pathology, Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York. 7. Respiratory Medicine Service, Hôpital Louis Pradel, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France. 8. Department of Internal Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio. 9. Department of Thoracic Surgery, New York University, New York, New York. 10. Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. 11. Thoracic Surgery Service, Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York. 12. Division of Thoracic Surgery, Keio University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. 13. Thoracic Surgery Service, Hospital Universitari Mutua Terrassa; Centros de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES) Lung Cancer Group, Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Application of tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) classification is difficult in patients with lung cancer presenting as multiple ground glass nodules or with diffuse pneumonic-type involvement. Clarification of how to do this is needed for the forthcoming eighth edition of TNM classification. METHODS: A subcommittee of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer Staging and Prognostic Factors Committee conducted a systematic literature review to build an evidence base regarding such tumors. An iterative process that included an extended workgroup was used to develop proposals for TNM classification. RESULTS: Patients with multiple tumors with a prominent ground glass component on imaging or lepidic component on microscopy are being seen with increasing frequency. These tumors are associated with good survival after resection and a decreased propensity for nodal and extrathoracic metastases. Diffuse pneumonic-type involvement in the lung is associated with a worse prognosis, but also with a decreased propensity for nodal and distant metastases. CONCLUSION: For multifocal ground glass/lepidic tumors, we propose that the T category be determined by the highest T lesion, with either the number of tumors or m in parentheses to denote the multifocal nature, and that a single N and M category be used for all the lesions collectively-for example, T1a(3)N0M0 or T1b(m)N0M0. For diffuse pneumonic-type lung cancer we propose that the T category be designated by size (or T3) if in one lobe, as T4 if involving an ipsilateral different lobe, or as M1a if contralateral and that a single N and M category be used for all pulmonary areas of involvement.
INTRODUCTION: Application of tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) classification is difficult in patients with lung cancer presenting as multiple ground glass nodules or with diffuse pneumonic-type involvement. Clarification of how to do this is needed for the forthcoming eighth edition of TNM classification. METHODS: A subcommittee of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer Staging and Prognostic Factors Committee conducted a systematic literature review to build an evidence base regarding such tumors. An iterative process that included an extended workgroup was used to develop proposals for TNM classification. RESULTS:Patients with multiple tumors with a prominent ground glass component on imaging or lepidic component on microscopy are being seen with increasing frequency. These tumors are associated with good survival after resection and a decreased propensity for nodal and extrathoracic metastases. Diffuse pneumonic-type involvement in the lung is associated with a worse prognosis, but also with a decreased propensity for nodal and distant metastases. CONCLUSION: For multifocal ground glass/lepidic tumors, we propose that the T category be determined by the highest T lesion, with either the number of tumors or m in parentheses to denote the multifocal nature, and that a single N and M category be used for all the lesions collectively-for example, T1a(3)N0M0 or T1b(m)N0M0. For diffuse pneumonic-type lung cancer we propose that the T category be designated by size (or T3) if in one lobe, as T4 if involving an ipsilateral different lobe, or as M1a if contralateral and that a single N and M category be used for all pulmonary areas of involvement.
Authors: Andrew G Nicholson; Kathleen Torkko; Patrizia Viola; Edwina Duhig; Kim Geisinger; Alain C Borczuk; Kenzo Hiroshima; Ming S Tsao; Arne Warth; Sylvie Lantuejoul; Prudence A Russell; Erik Thunnissen; Alberto Marchevsky; Mari Mino-Kenudson; Mary Beth Beasley; Johan Botling; Sanja Dacic; Yasushi Yatabe; Masayuki Noguchi; William D Travis; Keith Kerr; Fred R Hirsch; Lucian R Chirieac; Ignacio I Wistuba; Andre Moreira; Jin-Haeng Chung; Teh Ying Chou; Lukas Bubendorf; Gang Chen; Giuseppe Pelosi; Claudia Poleri; Frank C Detterbeck; Wilbur A Franklin Journal: J Thorac Oncol Date: 2017-11-07 Impact factor: 15.609