Updated November 2001

Protocol for the Examination of Specimens from Patients with Tumors of the Lung

Protocol applies to all carcinomas of the lung.

Procedures:

·         Cytology

·         Biopsy

·         Resection

 

I. Cytologic Material                 back     Top     Main Page

A.        Clinical Information

            1.         Patient identification

                        a.         Name

                        b.         Identification number

                        c.         Age (birth date)

                        d.         Gender

            2.         Responsible physician(s)

            3.         Date of procedure

            4.         Date of specimen receipt in pathology laboratory

            5.         Previous/concurrent cytology or biopsy specimen

            6.         Other clinical information

            a.         Relevant history (eg smoking, previous diagnosis, treatment)

                        b.         Relevant findings (eg imaging, PET scan, operative)

                        c.         Clinical diagnosis

            d.         Anticipated clinical stage per imaging studies

            e.         Procedure

            (1)        Bronchoscopy with bronchial washings

            (2)        Bronchoscopy with bronchial brushings

            (3)        Bronchoscopy with transbronchial cytology

            (4)        Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage

            (5)        CT guided transthoracic needle biopsy

            (6)        Ultrasound guided transthoracic needle biopsy

            (7)        Sputum cytology

            (8)        Pleural fluid

            (9)        Other specimen

f.          Anatomic site(s) of specimen(s) (eg, left upper lobe; right pleural space)

 

B.         Macroscopic Examination

            1.         Specimen

                        a.         Description (eg, bronchial washings, pleural fluid)

                        b.         Unfixed/fixed (specify fixative)

                        c.         Number of slides received, if appropriate

            d.         Quantity and appearance of fluid specimen, if appropriate

                        e.         Other (eg, cytologic preparation from tissue)

f.                    Material prepared for microscopic evaluation (eg, smear of fluid, cell block)

                        g.         Results of intraprocedural consultation

            2.         Special studies (specify)

 

C.         Microscopic Evaluation

            1.         Adequacy of specimen (if unsatisfactory for evaluation, specify reason)

            2.         Tumor, if present

                        a.         Histologic type, if possible (Note A)

                        b.         Histologic grade, if possible (Note B)

            3.         Additional pathologic findings, if present (specify)

            4.         Results of special studies (specify)

            5.         Comments

            a.         Correlation with intraprocedural consultation, as appropriate

                        b.         Correlation with other specimens, as appropriate

                        c.         Correlation with clinical and radiological information, as appropriate

 

II. Biopsy                      back     Top     Main Page

A.        Clinical Information

            1.         Patient identification

                        a.         Name

                        b.         Identification number

                        c.         Age (birth date)

                        d.         Gender

            2.         Responsible physician(s)

            3.         Date of procedure

            4.         Date of specimen receipt in pathology laboratory

            5.         Previous/concurrent cytology or biopsy specimen

            6.         Other clinical information

            a.         Relevant history (eg, smoking, previous diagnosis, treatment)

                        b.         Relevant findings (eg, imaging, PET scan, operative)

                        c.         Clinical diagnosis

            d.         Anticipated clinical stage per imaging studies

e.                   Procedure (bronchial biopsy, transbronchial biopsy, mediastinoscopic biopsy)

            f.          Findings at bronchoscopy/mediastinoscopy

            g.         Anatomic site(s) of specimen(s) (eg, left upper lobe)

 

B.         Macroscopic Examination

            1.         Specimen

                        a.         Unfixed/fixed (specify fixative)

                        b.         Size (3 dimensions)

                        c.         Descriptive features

            2.         Tissue submitted for microscopic evaluation

                        a.         Submit entire specimen

            b.         Frozen section tissue fragment(s) (unless saved for special studies)

            3.         Special studies (specify)

 

C.         Microscopic Evaluation

            1.         Tumor, if present

                        a.         Histologic type (Note A)

                        b.         Histologic grade (Note B)

                        c.         Extent of invasion, as appropriate

                        d.         Bronchus, in situ vs. invasive

                        e.         Vascular invasion

            f.          Lymphatic vessel invasion (Note C)

g.         Mediastinal lymph node, metastasis, if present (note extracapsular extension) (Note C)

                        h.         Pleural invasion

                        i.          Other (specify)

            2.         Additional pathologic findings, if present

            3.         Status/results of special studies (specify)

            4.         Comment

            a.         Correlation with intraprocedural consultation, as appropriate

                        b.         Correlation with other specimens, as appropriate

                        c.         Correlation with clinical information, as appropriate

 

III.  Resection               back     Top     Main Page

A.        Clinical Information

            1.         Patient identification

                        a.         Name

                        b.         Identification number

                        c.         Age (birth date)

                        d.         Gender

            2.         Responsible physician(s)

            3.         Date of procedure

            4.         Date of specimen receipt in pathology laboratory

            5.         Previous / concurrent cytology or biopsy specimen

            6.         Previous chemotherapy, radiotherapy, photodynamic therapy

            7.         Other clinical information

            a.         Relevant history (eg, smoking, previous diagnosis, treatment)

                        b.         Relevant findings (eg, imaging, PET scan, operative)

                        c.         Clinical diagnosis

            d.         Anticipated clinical stage per imaging studies

            e.         Procedure

            (1)        major airway resection (eg, trachea, carina, main  bronchus)

                                    (2)        video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)

                                    (3)        wedge resection (subsegmentectomy)

                                    (4)        segmentectomy

                                                i.          standard segmentectomy

ii.          en bloc with chest wall or other parietal tissue (eg, diaphragm/pericardium)

                                    (5)        lobectomy/bilobectomy

                                                i.          sleeve lobectomy

ii.          en bloc with chest wall or other parietal tissue (eg, diaphragm/pericardium)

                                    (6)        pneumonectomy

                                                i.          standard pneumonectomy

            ii.          pneumonectomy with tracheal and carinal resection

iii.         complex pneumonectomy (eg, pleuropneumonectomy, extrapleural pneumonectomy including en bloc resection)

                        e.         Operative findings

            f.          Anatomic site(s) of specimen(s) (eg, upper lobe of left lung)

 

B.         Macroscopic Examination

            1.         Specimen

            a.         Organs/tissues received (documentation of extent of resection)

                        b.         Unfixed/fixed (specify fixative)

                        c.         Size of entire specimen (3 dimensions)

                        d.         Weight

                        e.         External aspect

                                    (1)        visceral pleura (eg, puckering, pleuritis)

(2)        attached tissue (eg, parietal pleura, pericardium, diaphragm, chest wall with or without ribs, other)

                        f.          Documentation of areas marked by surgeon

                        g.         Results of intraoperative consultation

            2.         Tumor

                        a.         Location

                                    (1)        bronchial

                                                i.          main

                                                ii.          lobar

                                                iii.         segmental

                                    (2)        peripheral

                                    (3)        pleural

                        b.         Size (Note E)

                        c.         Descriptive features

                                    (1)        color

                                    (2)        shape

                                    (3)        circumscription

                                    (4)        cavitation

                                    (5)        other (eg, necrosis, hemorrhage)

                        d.         Extent of invasion

                                    (1)        bronchial involvement

            (2)        visceral pleural invasion

                                    (3)        interlobar fissure extension, as appropriate

            (4)        attached tissues (depth of invasion, as appropriate)

                                    (5)        invasion of pulmonary artery

            3.         Additional tumors, if present

                        a.         Describe each possible primary tumor as above (Note F)

                        b.         Multiple nodules not regarded as primaries (Note F)

                                    (1)        size (range)

                                    (2)        number

                                    (3)        location

            4.         Margins (specify distance from closest approach of tumor)

                        a.         bronchial

                        b.         vascular (pulmonary artery and vein)

            c.         parietal pleura, if present

            d.         resected parenchymal surfaces

                        e.         attached tissues (see 1.e.2.)

            5.         Additional pathologic findings, if present

6.         Regional lymph nodes in specimen (all nodes included in specimen are designated N1 unless otherwise specified by surgeon) (Note G)

7.         Separately submitted N1 or N2 nodes (report each node station separately, as specified by surgeon) (Note G)

            8.         Sections of tissue for microscopic evaluation (as appropriate)

                        a.         Tumor

                        b.         Tumor and adjacent lung

                        c.         Tumor and wall of bronchus (if arising in bronchus)

                        d.         Bronchial mucosa proximal to tumor

                        e.         Tumor relation to pleura

                        f.          Required margins

                                    (1)        bronchial

                                    (2)        vascular (pulmonary artery and vein)

                                    (3)        pleura

            (4)        parenchymal margin (VATS, wedge, segmentectomy)

                        g.         Additional margins/samples if needed

                                    (1)        attached tissue

                                    (2)        areas marked by surgeon

                        h.         Non-neoplastic lung

                                    (1)        normal

                                    (2)        abnormal

                        i.          All lymph nodes

            k.         Frozen section tissue fragment(s) (unless saved for special studies)

            9.         Special studies (specify)

            10.        Photography

 

C.         Microscopic Evaluation

            1.         Tumor

                        a.         Histologic type (Note A)

                        b.         Histologic grade (Note B)

                        c.         Site

                                    (1)        bronchus

                                    (2)        peripheral lung

                                    (3)        pleura

                                    (4)        areas marked by surgeon

                        d.         Extent of invasion (Note D)

                                    (1)        bronchial involvement

                                    (2)        visceral pleural invasion

                                    (3)        attached tissues

                        e.         Vascular invasion (arteriolar or venous) (Note C)

            f .         Lymphatic invasion (Note C)

            g.         Perineural invasion

            2.         Margins

                        a.         Bronchial

                        b.         Vascular

                                    (1)        pulmonary artery

                                    (2)        pulmonary vein

                        c.         Parenchymal

            d.         Pleural/extrapleural (Note D):

            (1)        the visceral pleura is free of involvement

                                    (2)        the tumor invades into the visceral pleura, but not through it

                                    (3)        the tumor invades through the visceral pleura

                                    (4)        the tumor is in subpleural lymphatics

                                    (5)        multifocal pleural involvement

                                    (6)        the tumor extends into superficial or deep chest wall

                        e.         Other (eg, attached ribs)

            3.         Regional (N1) Lymph nodes included in main specimen (N1) (Notes E and F)

                        a.         Total number examined

            b.         Number involved by tumor

            c.         Size of the largest metastasis

            d.         Extracapsular extension present or absent (Note C)

4.         Separately submitted N1 or N2 lymph nodes (report each node station separately, as specified) (Note G)

                        a.         Total number examined

            b.         Number involved by tumor

            c.         Extracapsular extension present or absent (Note C)

            5.         Additional pathologic findings, if present

            6.         Results of special studies (specify)

            7.         Comments

            a.         Correlation with intraoperative consultation, as appropriate

                        b.         Correlation with other specimens, as appropriate

                        c.         Correlation with clinical information, as appropriate

 

EXPLANATORY NOTES

A.  Histologic Type                back     Top     Main Page

For consistency in reporting, the histologic classification published by the World Health Organization (WHO) for carcinomas of the lung is recommended.(1) This protocol does not preclude the use of other systems of classification of histologic types.(2)

World Health Organization (WHO) classification of Lung Neoplasms

 

1.       Epithelial Tumors

2.       Soft Tissue Tumors

3.       Mesothelial Tumors

4.       Miscellaneous Tumors

5.       Lymphoproliferative Diseases

6.       Secondary Tumors (Metastatic)

7.       Unclassified Tumors

8.       Tumor-Like Lesions

 

Each category of lung neoplasms includes a variety of benign and malignant tumors.  A detailed list of all these neoplasms is beyond the scope of this protocol. Most lung neoplasms are malignant epithelial tumors.

 

Benign epithelial tumors of the lung include:

1.         Papillomas

Squamous cell papilloma

Exophytic

Inverted

Glandular papilloma

Mixed squamous cell and glandular papilloma

2.         Adenomas

                  Alveolar adenoma

                  Papillary adenoma

Adenomas of salivary-gland type

Mucous gland adenoma

Pleomorphic adenoma

Others

3.         Mucinous cystadenoma

4.         Others

 

Preinvasive lesions include:

1.       Squamous dysplasia

Carcinoma in situ

2.       Atypical adenomatous hyperplasia

3.       Diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia

 

Malignant epithelial tumors of the lung include:

1.       Squamous cell carcinoma

Papillary

Clear cell

Small cell

Basaloid

2.       Small cell carcinoma

3.       Variant

Combined small cell carcinoma

4. Adenocarcinoma

Acinar

Papillary

Bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma

-Non-mucinous

-Mucinous

-Mixed mucinous and non-mucinous or indeterminate cell type

Solid adenocarcinoma with mucin

Adenocarcinoma with mixed subtypes

Variants

-Well-differentiated fetal adenocarcinoma

-Mucinous (“colloid”) adenocarcinoma

-Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma

-Signet-ring adenocarcinoma

-Clear cell adenocarcinoma

5.         Large cell carcinoma

Variants

-Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma

-Combined large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma

-Basaloid carcinoma

-Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma  

-Clear cell carcinoma

-Large cell carcinoma with rhabdoid phenotype

5.         Adenosquamous carcinoma

6.         Carcinomas with pleomorphic, sarcomatoid or sarcomatous elements

Carcinomas with spindle and/or giant cells

Spindle cell carcinoma

Giant cell carcinoma

Carcinosarcoma

Pulmonary blastoma

7.         Carcinoid tumor

Typical carcinoid

                  Atypical carcinoid

8.         Carcinomas of salivary-gland type

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma

Adenoid cystic carcinoma         

Others

9.         Unclassified carcinoma

 

Soft tissue tumors include:

1.       Localized fibrous tumor

2.       Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma

3.       Pleuropulmonary blastoma

4.       Chondroma

5.       Calcifying fibrous pseudotumor of the pleura

6.       Congenital peribronchial myofibroblastic tumor

7.       Diffuse pulmonary lymphangiomatosis

8.       Desmoplastic round cell tumor

9.       Others

 

Mesothelial tumors include:

1.       Benign

Adenomatoid tumor

2.       Malignant

Epithelioid mesothelioma

Sarcomatoid mesothelioma

Desmoplastic mesothelioma

Biphasic mesothelioma

Others

 

Miscellaneous tumors include:

1.       Hamartoma

2.       Sclerosing hemangioma

3.       Clear cell tumor

4.       Germ cell tumors

Teratoma, mature

Teratoma, immature

Other germ cell tumors

5.       Thymoma

6.       Malignant melanoma

7.       Others

 

Lymphoproliferative disorders include:

1.       Lymphoid interstitial pneumonia

2.       Nodular lymphoid hyperplasia

3.       Low grade marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)

4.       Lymphomatoid granulomatosis

 

 

B.  Histopathologic Grade (G)                       back<