Diagnosis of Lung Carcinoma on Small Biopsy

Given the growing desire in clinical practice to detect lung carcinoma early, small biopsies are becoming more common and vital to the diagnostic process. Accurately diagnosing lung carcinoma on small biopsies is challenging but can significantly affect patient management. The challenge is due in part to the overlapping features between benign, reactive, and malignant processes and the lack of discriminating biomarkers. Specimen preservation for ancillary tests is also increasingly important to provide targeted precision medicine. We focuses on the morphologic features and diagnostic pitfalls of the most common lung carcinoma seen in small biopsies and the appropriate specimen handling practice.