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Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung diagnostic study of choice

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Trusha Tank, M.D.[2]

Overview

The diagnostic modality of choice for sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung is CT scan of the chest. The definitive diagnosis of sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung is made by biopsy of the tumor.

Diagnostic Study of Choice

  • Diagnostic modality of choice for sarcomatoid carcinoma of lung is CT scan of the chest.[1]
  • The definitive diagnosis of sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung is made by immunohistochemical analysis and pathological subtyping of the specimen collected from biopsy, needle aspiration, sputum cytology or surgical resection of the tumor.[2]
  • The algorithm below summarizes the initial imaging approach for patients with suspected non-small cell lung cancer.[3][4]


 
 
 
 
 
Suspected lung cancer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chest X-Ray
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Abnormal
 
 
 
Normal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Enhanced Computed Tomography (ECT), includes:
• Thorax
• Upper Abdomen
• Low Neck
 
 
 
Manage and observe
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Imaging evaluation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Location
• Central
• Peripheral
• Pleural lesion
Size
Lesion characteristics
• Margins (irregular/regular)
• Shape (spiculated/rounded)
Presence of cavitation
• Yes
• No
Type of adenopathy
• Hiliar
• Mediastinal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other Imaging or Diagnostic Modalities
• Sputum cytology
• Endobronchial ultrasound
• Endoscopic ultrasound
• Bronchoscopy
• Mediastinoscopy
• PET/CT
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

References

  1. Purandare, NilenduC; Rangarajan, Venkatesh (2015). “Imaging of lung cancer: Implications on staging and management”. Indian Journal of Radiology and Imaging. 25 (2): 109. doi:10.4103/0971-3026.155831. ISSN 0971-3026.
  2. Roesel, Christian; Terjung, Sarah; Weinreich, Gerhard; Hager, Thomas; Chalvatzoulis, Eleftherios; Metzenmacher, Martin; Welter, Stefan (2016). “Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung: a rare histological subtype of non-small cell lung cancer with a poor prognosis even at earlier tumour stages”. Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery: ivw392. doi:10.1093/icvts/ivw392. ISSN 1569-9293.
  3. Non-small cell lung cancer: Adenocarcinoma of the lung. Radiopedia.http://radiopaedia.org/articles/adenocarcinoma-of-the-lung Accessed on March 1, 2016
  4. WHO: Lung cancer/Tumours of the Lung. https://www.iarc.fr/en/publications/pdfs-online/pat-gen/bb10/bb10-chap1.pdf Accessed on March 1, 2016

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