Lung cancer (Histological classification)

Bronchogenic carcinomas of primary lung cancers can be classified as follows:

o Non small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) : This accounts for 70 -75% of bronchogenic carcinomas and can be further subdivided into:

§ Squamous cell carcinoma (25-30%)

§ Adenocarcinoma (30-35%)

§ Large cell carcinoma (10-15%)

o Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) : This chalks up 20 – 25% of bronchogenic carcinomas and comprises mainly of a group of cancers called oat cell carcinomas.

o Combined patterns : this consists of the various types of combinations of NSCLC and SCLC e.g. combined squamous & adenocarcinomas and combined squamous cell carcinomas & SCLC.