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21st February 2025
Pathology
Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and one of the leading causes of cancer deaths.
The most important clinical distinction is between small cell and non-small cell lung cancers, as this defines the management approach.
Table 1 Histological subtypes of lung cancer
| Histological subtype | Key facts | |||
| Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) | Aggressive, fast-growing; most strongly associated with smoking | |||
| Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) | Adenocarcinoma | Most common; arises peripherally | ||
| Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) | Involves central airways | |||
| Large cell carcinoma | Arises centrally; diagnosis of exclusion (no features of other subtypes) | Other | Neuroendocrine tumours (NET) | Including large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and well-differentiated NETs (carcinoid tumours) |
| Rarer subtypes | E.g. salivary gland type tumours, lung sarcoma, lung lymphoma | |||
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