These account for some 10 - 15% of lung tumours and consist of sheets of large, round to polygonal cells with large nuclei and prominent nucleoli. They frequently arise centrally and are too poorly differentiated to be more precisely defined by light microscopy, and may be squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas which are no longer recognisable.
Some contain intracellular mucin, some large numbers of multinucleate cells - giant cell carcinoma - and others, cleared cells - clear cell carcinoma.
Their prognosis is poor.
Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page