Neuroendocrine Lung Tumors

Question 1

What are the different neuroendocrine lung tumors and their associated grade?

Answer 1

Spectrum:

1. Small Cell Lung Cancer = high grade
2. Large Cell Neuroendocrine Lung Cancer = high grade
3. Atypical Carcinoid Lung Cancer = intermediate grade
4. Typical Carcinoid Lung Cancer = low grade

Question 2

Describe the immunohistochemistry of the neuroendocrine lung cancers?

Answer 2

Typically:
Chromogranin +
Synaptophysin +
CD56 +

Question 3

What are the two types of carcinoid tumors?

Answer 3

Typical and atypical carcinoid

Question 4

What is the primary treatment of carcinoid tumors?

Answer 4

Surgical Resection

Question 5

Is large cell neuroendocrine cancer different than both small cell lung cancer and large cell lung cancer?

Answer 5

Yes

Question 6

How do you differentiate large cell neuroendocrine lung cancer and small cell lung cancer from atypical carcinoid tumors?

Answer 6

Mitotic Rate > 11 per 2 mm squared
-Large Cell Neuroendocrine Cancer and Small Cell Lung Cancer will have mitotic rate > 11 whereas atypical carcinoid will be less than 11

Question 7

How do you differentiate large cell neuroendocrine cancer from small cell lung cancer?

Answer 7

Large Cell Neuroendocrine Lung Cancer has:

1. Large Cell Size
2. Abundant Cytoplasm
3. Prominent Nucleoli
4. Polygonal rather than fusiform shape

Question 8

Whats the 5 year survival rate for large cell neuroendocrine lung cancer, atypical carcinoid lung cancer, and typical lung cancer?

Answer 8

1. Large Cell Neuroendocrine Lung Cancer = 21%
2. Atypical Carcinoid Lung Cancer = 65%
3. Typical Carcinoid Lung Cancer = 90%