Adenocarcinoma of the lung: Electron microscopy of fine‐needle aspiration biopsy specimens—a review of 73 cases

Abstract

During a 10-yr period, 128 consecutive cases of pulmonary adenocarcinoma of varying differentiation were diagnosed with percutaneous fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Sediments from the needle and syringe washings with 3% glutaraldehyde were obtained and processed for electron microscopic evaluation in 73 cases. Our results showed three types of adenocarcinoma: 62 cases of nonciliated bronchiolar cell origin, 6 cases of bronchioloalveolar cell origin, and 3 cases of mucous cell origin. In addition, there was an example of combined adenosquamous carcinoma and an instance of amphicrine carcinoma. Our study provided a more precise definition of the cytologic diagnosis and insight into the heterogeneity of lung adenocarcinoma. However, prognostic differences between cell types of lung adenocarcinoma were not observed.

Proteomic and ultrastructural analysis of Clara cell and type II alveolar epithelial cell-type lung cancer cells

“…Proteomic and ultrastructural analysis of Clara cell and type II alveolar epithelial cell-type lung cancer cells six cytological subtypes by electron microscopy: bronchial cell surface type with little or no mucus, goblet cell type, bronchial gland cell type, Clara cell type, type II alveolar epithelial cell type, and mixed cell type (2)(3)(4).…”