[Electron-microscopic study of neuroendocrine tumors of the lung]

An electron-microscopic study was made of carcinoids, malignant carcinoids and small-cell lung cancer. These neoplasms are shown to represent one histogenetic group--neuroendocrine tumours (apudomas) of the lung. One can distinguish 3 main structural forms among them, i.e. epithelioid, sarcoma-like and symplastic. According to the ultrastructural criteria the neoplasms mentioned can be classified by their differentiation degree, as well, intermediately and poorly differentiated variants. This classification correlates well enough with the catamnesis of patients and may serve for prognosis of the disease.