Overview of Lung Tumors: Tumors of the Lungs: Merck Manual Professional

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Overview of Lung Tumors

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Lung tumors may be primary or metastatic from other sites in the body. Primary tumors of the lung may be malignant (see Table 1: Tumors of the Lungs: Classification of Primary Malignant Lung Tumors) or benign (see Table 2: Tumors of the Lungs: Classification of Benign Lung Tumors). The most common lung cancer is non–small cell lung cancer.

Table 1

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Classification of Primary Malignant Lung Tumors
Type	Example
Carcinoma
Small cell	Oat cell Intermediate cell Combined
Non–small cell	Adenocarcinoma Acinar Bronchioloalveolar Papillary Solid Adenosquamous Large cell Clear cell Giant cell Squamous cell Spindle cell
Other
Bronchial gland carcinoma	Adenoid cystic Mucoepidermoid
Carcinoid	–
Lymphoma	Primary pulmonary Hodgkin Primary pulmonary non-Hodgkin

Table 2

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Classification of Benign Lung Tumors
Type	Example
Laryngotracheobronchial	Adenoma Hamartoma Myoblastoma Papilloma
Parenchymal	Fibroma Hamartoma Leiomyoma Lipoma Neurofibroma Schwannoma Sclerosing hemangioma

Last full review/revision February 2013 by Anne S. Tsao, MD

Content last modified March 2013

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