Case No.: J-002

Diagnosis: Squamous cell carcinoma, keratinizing

Organ: Lung, right upper lobe

Last Updated: 12/21/2010

Hematoxylin & eosin

Area 1: Note the keratinizing pearls (arrow in the low-magnification image) and the intecellular bridges (arrow in the high-magnification image.

Hematoxylin & eosin

Area 2: Note that other areas are involved by the tumor but, in addition, there are also foamy macrophages (arrow)

History: A 65 year-old woman presented with a lung mass in the right upper lobe. An endobronchial biopsy was performed and yielded the current specimen.

Histologic Highlights of this Case:

This is a small endobronchial biopsy. The salient features are the keratin pearls (area 1) which is a diagnostic feature of squamous cell carcinoma. Intercellular bridges are also present which is also a classic feature of squmous cell carcinoma.
In some areas of the the specimen, some foamy cells are present and are likely to represent foamy macrophages. They are rather common in lung alveoli distal to obstruction of the corresponding bronchus. As lung cancer often generates this kind of obstruction, foamy histiocytes are rather common. (area 2)
Click here to see a squamous cell carcinoma of lung without keratin pear formation.

Original slide is contributed by Dr. Kar-Ming Fung, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma, U.S.A.

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