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IMAGE DESCRIPTIONS

A single layer of mucin containing epithelial cells line the alveolar septae. Interestingly, in contrast to the immunophenotypic profile of most pulmonary neoplasms, mucinous BACs are often TTF-1 negative and may express CK 20 (Lau).

BACs are divided into mucinous, nonmucinous, and mixed types. In this tumor, extensive pale staining mucin is found within alveolar spaces, along with scattered macrophages, consistent with the mucinous subtype. Malignant cells follow along the pre-existing alveolar walls without stromal invasion, a feature known as lepidic growth.

Cytoplasmic mucin is appreciated in this more cellular area of the tumor. However, no solid growth is noted, as the tumor grows solely along the pre-existing alveoli which are clearly intact.

Mucin producing cells are clearly appreciated in this field. Nuclei are basally oriented, and lack any signficant atypia.

Adenocarcinomas usually demonstrate positivity for cytokeratin 7 and TTF-1 and negativity for cytokeratin 20. However, in mucinous adenocarcinomas including the mucinous subtype of BAC, CK 7 and CK 20 are positive, whereas TTF-1 may be negative (Zander). This CK7+/CK20+/TTF1- profile is seen in our case.

This mucinous BAC is cytokeratin 20 positive.

TTF-1 is frequently negative in mucinous BAC.

BACKGROUND

Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC), a variant of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, has distinct clinicopathologic features, response to therapy and prognosis. The tumor is peripheral in the lung and consists entirely of lepidic (defn: pertaining to scales or scale-like covering) growth of tumor cells, without pleural, stromal, or vascular invasion. Thus, BAC can be thought of as carcinoma in situ and if invasion were identified, one cannot employ BAC as a diagnosis, but rather invoke the term of adenocarcinoma with bronchioloalveolar features or mixed adenocarcinoma.

There are two histologic subtypes of BAC: mucinous and non-mucinous (60%). Non-mucinous BAC have cuboidal or peg-shaped cells that resemble Clara cells or type II pneumocytes -- intranuclear eosinophilic inclusions can sometimes be present. Mucinous BAC have columnar cells with basally-oriented nuclei and abundant cytoplasmic mucin.

Interestingly, there are also gross differences between the two subtypes of BACs. Mucinous BAC often has a multinodular or pneumonia-like appearance grossly and on radiographic images, whereas nonmucinous BAC is usually a solitary mass (Zander). However, both types of BAC preserve the outlines of septa and alveoli since BAC is not an invasive neoplasm. Satellite nodules imitating a metastatic lesion are common as this tumor is believed to be spread aerogenously.

KRAS versus EFGR mutations: It is important to differentiate BAC (which represents <5% of lung cancers) from adenocarcinoma with BAC features (>20% of NSCLCs). The latter often show EGFR mutations, which have a good chemotherapy response rate (Kris). Mucinous, but not necessarily non-mucinous BACs, frequently lack EGFR mutations. The incidence of KRAS mutations is strikingly high, from 70 to 100%, in the mucinous subtype of BAC, although there is a lower incidence of KRAS mutations in non-mucinous BAC and in invasive lung adenocarcinomas.

CLINICAL

BAC disproportionately affects women, non-smokers, and Asians (Raz). There is a weaker association to smoking compared to other lung cancers. Adenocarcinomas (including BAC), tend to be peripherally located lesions compared to squamous cell carcinomas and small cell carcinomas which arise centrally in the large airways (Zander).

TREATMENT

Surgical resection. As mentioned above, adenocarcinomas with BAC features may respond well to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors gefitinib and erlotinib. However, there is insufficient data regarding the affect of EGFR inhibitors on "pure" BACs (Kris). However, for those with unresectable BAC, this chemotherapy may be a prudent option (Raz).

PROGNOSIS

BACs may be more slowly growing than other types of lung cancers and has a better prognosis compared to other NSCLCs. However, after treatment, these tumors often recur in multiple areas of the lung.

PEARLS

BAC is a variant of adenocarcinoma with distinct clinical presentation, pathology and prognosis.

BAC is considered an in situ carcinoma. To be confident of the diagnosis, there must be no invasion into the lung parenchyma or interstitum.

There are two subtypes of BAC, mucinous and non-mucinous, with distinct gross and histologic features.

RELATED DIAGNOSES

Lung : Bronchioloalveolar Carcinoma, Non-mucinous subtype

REFERENCES

Fletcher CDM, ed. Diagnostic Histopathology of Tumors. 3rd Ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2007: 183-4.

Kris MG, et al. Systemic therapy of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma: results of the first IASLC/ASCO consensus conference on bronchioloalveolar carcinoma. J Thorac Oncol. 2006 Nov;1(9 Suppl):S32-6.

Lau SK, Desrochers MJ, Luthringer DJ. Expression of thyroid transcription factor-1, cytokeratin 7, and cytokeratin 20 in bronchioloalveolar carcinomas: an immunohistochemical evaluation of 67 cases. Mod Pathol. 2002 May;15(5):538-42.

Raz DJ, He B, Rosell R, Jablons DM. Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma: a review. Clin Lung Cancer. 2006 Mar;7(5):313-22.

Zander DS, Farver CF. Pulmonary Pathology: Foundations in Diagnostic Pathology. hiladelphia, PA: Elvesier; 2008: 549-552.

Last updated: 2011-07-28
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