Pulmonary enteric adenocarcinoma is rare subtype of pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

Presentation

The presentation is similar to that of other lung cancers. There is nothing in the radiological appearances that would suggest this particular histology. Two-thirds of reported cases have occurred in the right lung. The reason for this difference is not known and may be due to chance.

Histology

The typical histological appearance of this tumour of tall columnar cells arranged in an irregular glandular cavity or cribriform pattern with extensive central necrosis. The cells resemble those of the intestinal epithelium and

colorectal carcinoma Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine). Signs and symptoms may include blood in the stool, a change in bowel ...

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of this type of lung cancer is by

biopsy A biopsy is a medical test commonly performed by a surgeon, interventional radiologist, or an interventional cardiologist. The process involves extraction of sample cells or tissues for examination to determine the presence or extent of a dise ...

, histology and special staining. CT and colonoscopy to rule out a colonic primary are recommended.

Treatment

Optimal treatment for this condition is not known. Surgery to remove the lesion is the usual form of treatment. Whether radiotherapy or chemotherapy can offer any advantage is not known.

Prognosis

The small number of reported cases makes any prognostication extremely difficult. Survival seems to be somewhat better than the more common types of lung cancer.

Epidemiology

This type is considered to be rare with fewer than 30 reports in the literature.Lin D, Zhao Y, Li H, Xing X (2013) Pulmonary enteric adenocarcinoma with villin brush border immunoreactivity: a case report and literature review. ''Journal of Thoracic Disease'' 5:E17–20 The male:female ratio is approximately 1. This condition is more common in smokers.

History

This type of lung cancer was first recognised by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer in 2011. It was first described in 1991.Tsao MS, Fraser RS (1991) Primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma with enteric differentiation. ''Cancer'' 68:1754–1757

References

Pulmonary adenocarcinoma Lung cancer {{neoplasm-stub