Lung adenocarcinoma, mixed subtype: histopathologic basis for high-resolution computed tomography findings

"Adenocarcinoma, mixed subtype" is the most common histologic subtype of lung adenocarcinomas in the World Health Organization classification of 2004. For small peripheral adenocarcinomas, for example, those measuring 2 cm or less in greatest diameter, invasive areas can present various histologic patterns. The purpose of this study is to present the radiologic features of small peripheral lung adenocarcinomas with or without a bronchioloalveolar component and with or without invasive areas, in comparison with histopathologic findings. For this purpose, a detailed evaluation of the characteristics of solid regions in ground-glass opacity on high-resolution computerized tomographic images of lung adenocarcinoma is useful.