Small Cell Carcinoma : Gross

Comments:
Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) makes up between 10-20% of all lung cancers. Among all lung cancers, it has the strongest association with smoking. Only 1% of cases occur in non-smokers. Most patients are males and the median age at diagnosis is 60 years. Onset of symptoms/signs is generally rapid due to tumor growth, extrapulmonary spread, and paraneoplastic syndromes.

Gross: Most cases arise centrally near major bronchi. About 5% of tumors involve lung periphery (as seen in this example). Grossly, SCLC presents as a bulky perihilar mass with nodal involvement. It may show subepithelial spread along the bronchi. The cut surface is white-tan, soft, and friable and may have a necrotic center