The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 21, 540-545, Copyright © 1976 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Pulmonary giant cell carcinoma
MA Razzuk, HC Urschel Jr, JE Albers, JA Martin and DL Paulson
Pulmonary giant cell carcinoma is one of the most highly malignant
neoplasms of the lung. Eighteen patients with this tumor are presented.
Histologically the neoplasm is composed of a preponderance of
multinucleated giant cells, round cells, and spindle cells. Some of the
most differentiated tumors show adenocarcinomatous foci and ultrastructural
features of secretory epithelium favoring its classification as a variant
of pulmonary adenocarcinoma. The giant cells of this neoplasm can be
differentiated from those encountered in undifferentiated large cell
carcinoma and epidermoid carcinoma by the abundant cytoplasm, the presence
of more nuclei and nucleoli, and the significant degree of phagocytosis.
The clinical picture and roentgenographic findings present no pathognomonic
features.