Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Large cell
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Large cell is a term used in oncology. It doesn’t refer to a particular type of cell; rather it refers to cells that are larger than would be normally expected for that type. It is frequently used when describing lymphoma and lung cancer.
It was more frequently used in the past than it is used today, when doctors often could tell little about a cell other than its size, and it was used for classification systems such as the “Working Formulation” for lymphoma. As such, the term lives on in the names of many conditions, even when the size of the cell is no longer one of the most important diagnostic criteria.
The phrase “Giant cell” is also frequently used, especially with carcinoma.
External links
External links
- Overview at Mayo Clinic
- Large Cell and Giant Cell
- Carcinoma,+Giant+Cell at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
- Giant+Cell+Tumors at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]