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bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (alveolar cell carcinoma)
Etiology:
1) arise from alveolar type II pneumocytes &/or Clara cells
2) unrelated to tobacco smoke
Pathology:
-> two forms
a) localized solitary nodular lesion
1] best prognosis of all forms of lung cancer
2] one year survival is > 80%
3] slow growth with chronic course of disease
b) diffuse alveolar process: mean survival < 6 months
Genetics:
- upregulation of C16orf34
Clinical manifestations:
1) bronchorrhea
a) > 100 mL thin serous mucous secretion/24 hours (20%)
b) generally occurs with diffuse form of disease
2) hemoptysis may occur
3) may mimic pneumonia
Radiology:
1) chest X-ray
a) solitary nodule may be seen
b) pneumonic lesions may be present
2) computed tomography may show localized infiltrate with vacuoles
Management:
1) treatment for solitary lesion is resection
2) response to radiation & chemotherapy is poor
3) bronchorrhea seems to respond to radiation in some patients
Interactions
disease interactions
General
adenocarcinoma of the lung
References
- Mayo Internal Medicine Board Review, 1998-99, Prakash UBS (ed)
Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, 1998, pg 768
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 11, American
College of Physicians, Philadelphia 1998
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