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There is a malignant lung tumor called squamous cell carcinoma. It is formed from flat-shaped epithelial cells of the bronchi, from which it got its name.
The disease can be cured only if detected in the initial (1,2) stages. If the cancer is diagnosed at later stages, then the chances of curing it are negligible, and the treatment comes down to simply prolonging the life of the patient.
According to the histological type, bronchopulmonary cancer is:
Squamous cell nonkeratinized lung cancer. Its features are mitoses, cell polyphonism;
Keratinizing. It is characterized by the development of a large number of metastases;
Glandular squamous cell, otherwise called adenocarcinoma, occurs predominantly in women. Less common than other forms of cancer.
Depending on the location of the neoplasm relative to the bronchi, they are distinguished:
Central squamous cell lung cancer is formed in the lobar, main, or segmental part of the organ. 70% of patients suffer from this type of tumor.
Peripheral, localized in the subsegmental bronchi and their branches or in the alveolar tissue. It is rare (3% of patients).
Nonkeratinizing lung cancer
The main characteristic of this histological formation is the presence of indirect cell division (mitosis) at a rate exceeding the reproduction of tissue cells. This factor determines the high dynamics of tumor growth.
The cells involved in the process contain keratins – mechanically strong fibrillar proteins.
Keratinizing squamous cell lung cancer
A characteristic feature of this neoplasm are metastases. With keratinizing cancer, cells from the focus through the blood vessels, lymph flow, spread throughout the body.
It is characterized by the rapid onset of the formation of metastases. In this case, cancer cells reach other organs, usually through the lymphatics.
Glandular squamous cell lung cancer
This type of cancer is called adenocarcinoma – a neoplasm of the glandular epithelium of both external and internal organs.
Adenocarcinoma affects not only the lungs, but almost all human organs. Fortunately, such a diagnosis is rarely made by doctors.
Adenocarcinoma tends to visit the female body more often.
Rare forms of cancer
There are forms of neoplasms that are diagnosed less often than others, “popular”. It:
Neuroendocrine tumor – is formed in the neuroendocrine system from cells that are not in the organs related to it;
bronchoalveolar cancer. It is located on the periphery of the lung, it is formed from the epithelium of the alveoli or bronchioles.
Prognosis and treatment of squamous cell lung cancer
The prognosis for the survival of patients with this disease is very sad, because in almost every case the tumor has time to form metastases. The forecast numbers are:
Stage 1 – up to 80% per 100 patients;
Stage 2 – up to 50%;
Stage 3 – up to 25%;
Stage 4 – up to 10%.
Treatment for squamous cell carcinoma is complex and involves chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery.