Pathology and survival in operable cases of giant-cell carcinoma of the lung.

Giant-cell carcinoma of the lung is usually rapidly fatal and nearly all of the published cases have been described on the basis of postmortem findings. The surgical specimens from three resected giant-cell carcinomas are described and the subsequent courses of the patients are summarized. A further nine surgically treated cases have been found in the literature. Giant-cell carcinoma of the lung is thought to be an anaplastic variant of adenocarcinoma and its aggressive behaviour is a reflection of its degree of anaplasia. Despite the aggressive behaviour of this type of cancer, patients may survive for many years if the tumour is resected.