[Correlation between tumor histology and prognostic factors in lung cancer cases]

The most important prognostic factor is TNM and related stage classification in lung cancer. As there are, nevertheless, many tumor cell types and growth patterns in lung cancer cases, more precise analysis of various morphologic features affecting prognosis are needed based on tumor histology. These include tumor location in squamous cell carcinoma, grades of scarring associated with a tumor, nuclear atypia of tumor cells, frequency of mitoses, immunologic responses of regional lymph nodes and degrees of infiltration of T-zone histiocytes in adenocarcinoma, and tumor cell subtypes in small cell and large cell carcinomas. Evaluating these prognostic factors according to histology at the time of surgery, it is easier to decide whether or not adjuvant therapy is necessary.