Master Large Cell Carcinoma with Picmonic for Medicine

Large cell carcinoma is strongly correlated with a history of cigarette smoking.

There is often a poor prognosis for patients diagnosed with large cell carcinoma of the lung. These tumors tend to grow rapidly and spread more quickly than other types of non-small cell lung cancers. The estimate for 5-year survival rate of large cell carcinoma is around 10%.

Large cell carcinoma tends to be located in the periphery of the lung. It usually presents as a large peripheral mass with prominent necrosis.

Certain subtypes of large cell carcinoma can secrete beta-hCG which can lead to high levels of estrogen, painful gynecomastia (breast enlargement) and galactorrhea (spontaneous discharge of milk from the breast).

Certain subtypes of large cell carcinoma can secrete beta-hCG which can lead to high levels of estrogen, painful gynecomastia (breast enlargement) and galactorrhea (spontaneous discharge of milk from the breast).

Large cell carcinoma tends to be a highly anaplastic undifferentiated tumor. Anaplastic cells are poorly differentiated cells that lose their normal morphological characteristics.

Histologically, large cell carcinoma is characterized by large polygonal cells and anaplastic cells growing in solid nests. There is often abundant pale staining cytoplasm.

Recall that beta-hCG is normally produced by the placenta to maintain progesterone production and therefore pregnancy. Certain subtypes of large cell carcinoma can secrete beta-hCG which can lead to high levels of estrogen, painful gynecomastia (breast enlargement) and galactorrhea (spontaneous discharge of milk from the breast).

Large cell carcinoma does not exhibit glandular or squamous differentiation (which is seen in adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma respectively). It also lacks cytologic features of small cell carcinoma. Since it does not have features of other lung cancers, it is a diagnosis of exclusion.

Non-small cell lung cancers that present early in the disease process are generally treated upfront with surgical resection. Patients with metastatic disease outside of the chest are not candidates for surgical resection. Even with a complete resection, recurrence is still possible.

Large cell carcinoma is less responsive to chemotherapy. Surgical resection is typically preferred.