Prognostic Impact of Intra-alveolar Tumor Spread in Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma.

Tumor spread, in general, is the most important factor determining outcome in almost all malignant tumors. Lung tumors are unique with respect to potential routes for tumor dissemination, as apart from vascular, nodal, and distant spread of tumor cells, tumor spread through air spaces (STAS) might also occur. However, morphologic criteria for STAS and its prognostic impact have not been defined yet.

Preparation of cell blocks for lung cancer diagnosis and prediction: protocol and experience of a high-volume center.

Minimally invasive diagnostic techniques are increasingly being used to obtain specimens for pathological diagnosis and prediction. Referring to lung cancer, both endobronchial and endoesophageal ultrasound are used worldwide as diagnostic routine methods. Consequently, an increasing number of pathological samples are cytological and fewer are histological.