AN AUDIT OF LUNG CARCINOMAS AT A TERTIARY REFERRAL CENTRE

Abstract

A generic diagnosis of ‘small cell or non-small cell carcinoma’ was sufficient in the past when there was no clinical demand for sub classification as it had no impact on therapy. Patients with advanced stage non-small cell lung carcinoma who received chemotherapy were typically treated with a ‘platinum doublet’ of cisplatin plus gemcitabine irrespective of histological subtype. At present, in contrast, sub classification of non-small cell lung carcinoma has significant treatment implications, especially for advanced stage tumors for which chemotherapy or targeted therapy is being considered. Consequently, pathologists are asked to subtype the tumor. The demand for sub typing is driven by oncologists, who now have several new targeted therapies, the efficacy of which varies by histological subtype.

In view of demand of sub typing of lung carcinomas as well as the guidelines given by WHO 2015 classification which emphasises the importance of a separate classification for biopsies and cytology on one side and the resection specimen on the other, we have taken up this study.

Keywords: Lung carcinoma, classification, core biopsies, immunohistochemistry