Adenocarcinoma

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Adenocarcinoma (lung). Pleural fluid specimen. Pap stain. (WC)
Adenocarcinoma (colorectal). Field stain. (WC)

Adenocarcinoma is a form of cancer that arises from glandular tissue. Adenocarcinoma can arise in many sites.

Adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified, also adenocarcinoma NOS, is a non-specific malignant diagnosis that without further information is not very useful for treatment decisions.

Types of adenocarcinoma

Site specific

Below is an incomplete list of adenocarcinomas.

Gastrointestinal pathology

Esophagus

Stomach

Duodenum

Ampulla of Vater

Pancreas

Gallbladder

Colon and rectum

Other

Lung

Salivary gland

Gynecologic pathology

Ovary

Endometrium

Cervix

Genitourinary pathology

Prostate

Testis

Urinary bladder

General type

Microscopic (generic)

Features:

  • Gland forming - round/ovoid/tubular spaces.
  • Eccentric nucleus.
  • Moderate cytoplasm +/- vacuoles.
  • +/-Prominent nucleolus.
  • +/-Nuclear atypia - dependent on type/site.

DDx:

Grading

Special grading systems exists based on the primary site:

Adenocarcinomas are often graded by their glandular component:[1]

  • Grade 1: >95% of tumour glandular.
  • Grade 2: 50-95% of tumour glandular.
  • Grade 3: <50% of tumour glandular.

See also

References