[A study on the cellular heterogeneity of lung carcinoma]

The cellular heterogeneity and histological origin of 28 cases of lung carcinoma were studied by light and electron microscopy, as well as by immunohistochemical technique. Most and possibly all of the lung carcinomas were heterogeneous. In 5 of these cases, dual-differentiation in individual cells was revealed. It seems that various types of primary lung carcinoma, including small cell carcinoma, have the same histogenesis. Neuro-endocrine differentiation is not only seen in the typical small cell carcinoma, but is also seen in other types of lung carcinoma.