September 29, 2012

Types of Lung Cancer


Lung cancer, also known as a bronchogenic carcinomas ("carcinoma" is another term for cancer), broadly classified into two types: small cell lung cancers (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). This classification is based on microscopic appearance of cancer cells themselves. Two types of this cancer grow and spread in different ways, making a distinction between two types is important.

SCLC comprises about 20% of lung cancers and is the most aggressive and rapidly growing of all lung cancers. SCLC is strongly associated with smoking, with only 1% of these tumors that occur in non-smokers. SCLC quickly spread to many places in the body and most often discovered after they have spread extensively. Referring to a specific cell type often seen in SCLC, the cancer is sometimes called oat cell carcinomas.
NSCLC is the most common lung cancer, covering about 80% of all lung cancers. NSCLC has three main types are named based on the type of cells found in tumors:
• Adenocarcinomas are the most common type of NSCLC seen in the Americas and covers up to 50% of NSCLC. Where adenocarcinomas associated with smoking like other lung cancers, this type is mainly observed also in non-smokers who develop lung cancer. Most adenocarcinomas arise in areas or around the outside of the lungs. Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma is a subtype of adenocarcinoma that frequently develops in various places in the lungs and spreads along the walls of preexisting alveo.
• Squamous cell carcinomas are more common than previously adenocarcinomas; now, they cover approximately 30% of NSCLC. Also known as epidermoid carcinomas, squamous cell cancers occur most often in the center of the chest in the bronchi.
• Large cell carcinomas, sometimes referred to as carcinoma-carcinoma that can not be differentiated (undifferentiated carcinomas), the type of NSCLC is the least common.
• mixtures (mixture) of the types of different NSCLC also found. Other types of cancer can arise in the lung; types are much less common than NSCLC and SCLC and together cover only 5% -10% of lung cancer:
• Bronchial carcinoids include up to 5% of lung cancer. These tumors are generally small (3-4 cm or less) when diagnosed, and most commonly occurs in people under age 40. Not related to smoking, carcinoid tumors can spread, and a small portion of these tumors release elements that mimic hormones. Carcinoids usually grows and spreads more slowly than bronchogenic cancers, and many are detected early enough to agree on the operation of resection.
• Cancer of the lung supporting tissues such as smooth muscles, blood vessels, or cells involved in immune response may rarely occur in the lungs.
As discussed earlier, a cancer that spreads (metastastatic cancers) from other primary tumors in the body are often found in the lungs. Tumors from anywhere in the body may spread to the lungs through one of the bloodstream or lymphatic system, or directly from the adjacent organs. Tumor that has spread (metastatic tumors) often many, scattered throughout the lung, and concentrated on areas around than in the central organs.
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Types of Lung Cancer


Lung cancer, also known as a bronchogenic carcinomas ("carcinoma" is another term for cancer), broadly classified into two types: small cell lung cancers (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). This classification is based on microscopic appearance of cancer cells themselves. Two types of this cancer grow and spread in different ways, making a distinction between two types is important.

SCLC comprises about 20% of lung cancers and is the most aggressive and rapidly growing of all lung cancers. SCLC is strongly associated with smoking, with only 1% of these tumors that occur in non-smokers. SCLC quickly spread to many places in the body and most often discovered after they have spread extensively. Referring to a specific cell type often seen in SCLC, the cancer is sometimes called oat cell carcinomas.
NSCLC is the most common lung cancer, covering about 80% of all lung cancers. NSCLC has three main types are named based on the type of cells found in tumors:
• Adenocarcinomas are the most common type of NSCLC seen in the Americas and covers up to 50% of NSCLC. Where adenocarcinomas associated with smoking like other lung cancers, this type is mainly observed also in non-smokers who develop lung cancer. Most adenocarcinomas arise in areas or around the outside of the lungs. Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma is a subtype of adenocarcinoma that frequently develops in various places in the lungs and spreads along the walls of preexisting alveo.
• Squamous cell carcinomas are more common than previously adenocarcinomas; now, they cover approximately 30% of NSCLC. Also known as epidermoid carcinomas, squamous cell cancers occur most often in the center of the chest in the bronchi.
• Large cell carcinomas, sometimes referred to as carcinoma-carcinoma that can not be differentiated (undifferentiated carcinomas), the type of NSCLC is the least common.
• mixtures (mixture) of the types of different NSCLC also found. Other types of cancer can arise in the lung; types are much less common than NSCLC and SCLC and together cover only 5% -10% of lung cancer:
• Bronchial carcinoids include up to 5% of lung cancer. These tumors are generally small (3-4 cm or less) when diagnosed, and most commonly occurs in people under age 40. Not related to smoking, carcinoid tumors can spread, and a small portion of these tumors release elements that mimic hormones. Carcinoids usually grows and spreads more slowly than bronchogenic cancers, and many are detected early enough to agree on the operation of resection.
• Cancer of the lung supporting tissues such as smooth muscles, blood vessels, or cells involved in immune response may rarely occur in the lungs.
As discussed earlier, a cancer that spreads (metastastatic cancers) from other primary tumors in the body are often found in the lungs. Tumors from anywhere in the body may spread to the lungs through one of the bloodstream or lymphatic system, or directly from the adjacent organs. Tumor that has spread (metastatic tumors) often many, scattered throughout the lung, and concentrated on areas around than in the central organs.