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Bronchiolo‐alveolar carcinoma: A clara cell tumor?
Author(s) -
Jacques J.,
Currie W.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197711)40:5<2171::aid-cncr2820400527>3.0.co;2-f
Subject(s) - pathology , carcinoma , medicine , lamellar granule , bronchiole , ultrastructure , alveolar cells , lung , tumor cells , cancer research
Abstract The cell of origin, and indeed the very existence, of bronchiolo‐alveolar carcinoma have long been the subject of debate. Published cases have demonstrated the presence of type II pneumocytes in some tumors, while others have been composed of mucus‐secreting bronchiolar cells. A case of bronchiolo‐alveolar carcinoma is presented in which the ultrastructure indicates an origin from Clara cells, but in which some cells contain polymorphous and lamellar bodies, It is concluded that bronchiolo‐alveolar carcinoma is a primary lung tumor derived from the terminal airways and in the majority of cases from the bronchiole. The value of electron microscopy in assessing such tumors is emphasized.