The lung cancer pathology report is an important basis for oncologists to formulate follow-up treatment plans. However, many lung cancer patients and their families are difficult to read due to the strong professionalism of pathological reports. In order to help people to have better understanding of the medical terminology in the report, we have collated the common terms in the report for preliminary interpretation.

If you want to know more about the report on lung cancer, you can make an appointment online or contact us at 02-8-822122 (Manila Office) or 0917-599-2277 (Cebu Office), professional oncologists will help to answer your questions.

1. What is Squamous Carcinoma and Adenocarcinoma?

Squamous carcinoma is a type of non-small cell lung cancer where the cells resemble the flat cells (called squamous cells) that line the airways. Adenocarcinoma is a type of non-small cell lung cancer where the cell resemble gland cells, such as the glands that secrete mucus in the lungs.

2. What is Small Cell Lung Cancer and Non-small Cell Lung Cancer?

About 15% of lung cancer are small cell lung cancer. Lung cancer starts when cells of the lung become abnormal and begin to grow out of control. As more cancer cells develop, they can form into a tumor and spread to distant organ such as brain and bone. Small cell lung cancer has poor prognosis.

The 3 main types of non-small cell lung cancer are adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma, which makes up about 85% of lung cancers and has good prognosis.

3. What is the Meaning of Well-Differentiated, Moderately Differentiated, or Poorly Differentiated?

These terms are assigned by a pathologist based on how the cancer cells look under the microscope. Well-differentiated carcinoma tend to look a lot like the type of cells from which they arose and has good prognosis. Poor differentiated carcinoma is the most aggressive tumors, which has poor prognosis. The prognosis of moderately differentiated carcinoma is between the two.

4. What is Vascular or Lymphatic Invasion?

This term means that cancer is present in the blood vessels and/or lymph vessels, so there is an increased chance that cancer could have spread outside the lung.

5. What is the Meaning of Immunohistochemistry in Pathology Report?

Immunohistochemistry techniques is a common detection for pathological diagnosis.the judgment of lung cancer type, and even the follow-up treatment of lung cancer. It plays a critical role as diagnostic and screening tools for lung cancer. In addition, immunohistochemistry can be also used for the judgment of molecular typing of lung cancer, that is to say, genetic analysis using immunohistochemistry.

If you have any doubt about the lung cancer pathology report, you can make an online appointment or contact us at 02-8-822122 (Manila Office) or 0917-599-2277 (Cebu Office). Professional oncologists will help you out.

Tips from oncologist at St. Stamford Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou: The above is only a partial interpretation of the pathology report of lung cancer. We must find a professional oncologist for a comprehensive interpretation on a detailed pathology report, so that patients can receive guidance and treatment on time to avoid irreversible consequences.