Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2011; 32(1): 052-061
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1272869
© Thieme Medical Publishers

Bronchioloalveolar Carcinoma

Douglas Arenberg1
  • 1Division of Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
15 April 2011 (online)

ABSTRACT

This review focuses on aspects of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) in which it differs importantly from other forms of non-small-cell lung cancer. BAC is a form of adenocarcinoma with unique clinical, radiological, and epidemiological features. With the notable exception of a lower likelihood of a positive positron-emission tomographic (PET) scan in BAC, staging, diagnosis, and treatment are largely the same as for other histological subtypes of lung cancer. However, additional treatment options exist that are equivalent, if not more effective, for many patients with BAC. The diagnosis of BAC should be reserved for those tumors meeting the 1999/2004 criteria set forth by the World Health Organization. Revised nomenclature proposed by an expert consensus panel may change how this disease is viewed. Additional clinical trials are needed on patients with BAC, employing strict definitions and enrollment criteria to allow the results to be applied to appropriate patient populations.

REFERENCES

  • 1 Liebow A A. Bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma.  Adv Intern Med. 1960;  10 329-358
  • 2 Auerbach O, Garfinkel L. The changing pattern of lung carcinoma.  Cancer. 1991;  68 (9) 1973-1977
  • 3 Barsky S H, Cameron R, Osann K E, Tomita D, Holmes E C. Rising incidence of bronchioloalveolar lung carcinoma and its unique clinicopathologic features.  Cancer. 1994;  73 (4) 1163-1170
  • 4 Travis W D, Brambilla E, Noguchi M et al.. IASLC/ATS/ERS international multidisciplinary classification of lung adenocarcinoma.  J Thorac Oncol. 2011;  6 (2) 244-285
  • 5 Read W L, Page N C, Tierney R M, Piccirillo J F, Govindan R. The epidemiology of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma over the past two decades: analysis of the SEER database.  Lung Cancer. 2004;  45 (2) 137-142
  • 6 Ruffini E, Bongiovanni M, Cavallo A et al.. The significance of associated pre-invasive lesions in patients resected for primary lung neoplasms.  Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2004;  26 (1) 165-172
  • 7 Travis W, Colby T, Corrin B in collaboration with pathologists from 14 countries et al. World Health Organization International Histological Classification of Lung and Pleural Tumours. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Springer-Verlag; 1999
  • 8 Travis W D. Pathology of lung cancer.  Clin Chest Med. 2002;  23 (1) 65-81, viii
  • 9 Travis W D, Garg K, Franklin W A et al.. Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma and lung adenocarcinoma: the clinical importance and research relevance of the 2004 World Health Organization pathologic criteria.  J Thorac Oncol. 2006;  1 (9, Suppl) S13-S19
  • 10 Travis W D, Brambilla E, Muller-Hermelink H, Harris C. Pathology and Genetics of Tumors of the Lung, Pleura, Thymus, and Heart. Lyon, France: IARC Press; 2004
  • 11 Noguchi M, Morikawa A, Kawasaki M et al.. Small adenocarcinoma of the lung: histologic characteristics and prognosis.  Cancer. 1995;  75 (12) 2844-2852
  • 12 Carretta A, Canneto B, Calori G et al.. Evaluation of radiological and pathological prognostic factors in surgically-treated patients with bronchoalveolar carcinoma.  Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2001;  20 (2) 367-371
  • 13 Campione A, Ligabue T, Luzzi L et al.. Impact of size, histology, and gender on stage IA non-small cell lung cancer.  Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann. 2004;  12 (2) 149-153
  • 14 Travis W D, Garg K, Franklin W A et al.. Evolving concepts in the pathology and computed tomography imaging of lung adenocarcinoma and bronchioloalveolar carcinoma.  J Clin Oncol. 2005;  23 (14) 3279-3287
  • 15 Kim E A, Johkoh T, Lee K S et al.. Quantification of ground-glass opacity on high-resolution CT of small peripheral adenocarcinoma of the lung: pathologic and prognostic implications.  AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2001;  177 (6) 1417-1422
  • 16 Volpino P, D'Andrea N, Cangemi R, Mingazzini P, Cangemi B, Cangemi V. Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma: clinical, radiographic, and pathological findings. Surgical results.  J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino). 2001;  42 (2) 261-267
  • 17 Charloux A, Hedelin G, Dietemann A et al.. Prognostic value of histology in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.  Lung Cancer. 1997;  17 (1) 123-134
  • 18 Suzuki K, Nagai K, Yoshida J et al.. The prognosis of resected lung carcinoma associated with atypical adenomatous hyperplasia: a comparison of the prognosis of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma associated with atypical adenomatous hyperplasia and intrapulmonary metastasis.  Cancer. 1997;  79 (8) 1521-1526
  • 19 Nakajima J, Furuse A, Oka T, Kohno T, Ohtsuka T. Excellent survival in a subgroup of patients with intrapulmonary metastasis of lung cancer.  Ann Thorac Surg. 1996;  61 (1) 158-162 discussion 162-163
  • 20 Castro C Y, Coffey D M, Medeiros L J, Cagle P T. Prognostic significance of percentage of bronchioloalveolar pattern in adenocarcinomas of the lung.  Ann Diagn Pathol. 2001;  5 (5) 274-284
  • 21 Volpino P, Cavallaro A, Cangemi R et al.. Comparative analysis of clinical features and prognostic factors in resected bronchioloalveolar carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung.  Anticancer Res. 2003;  23 (6D) 4959-4965
  • 22 Tajiri M, Kameda Y, Nakayama H, Sakamoto K. Prognosis and morphometrical features of non-bronchioloalveolar cell adenocarcinoma: an assessment of the non-alveolar replacing area and high grade atypical area.  J Clin Pathol. 2006;  59 (3) 269-273
  • 23 Suzuki K, Asamura H, Kusumoto M, Kondo H, Tsuchiya R. “Early” peripheral lung cancer: prognostic significance of ground glass opacity on thin-section computed tomographic scan.  Ann Thorac Surg. 2002;  74 (5) 1635-1639
  • 24 Sakurai H, Maeshima A, Watanabe S et al.. Grade of stromal invasion in small adenocarcinoma of the lung: histopathological minimal invasion and prognosis.  Am J Surg Pathol. 2004;  28 (2) 198-206
  • 25 Sakurai H, Dobashi Y, Mizutani E et al.. Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma of the lung 3 centimeters or less in diameter: a prognostic assessment.  Ann Thorac Surg. 2004;  78 (5) 1728-1733
  • 26 Sakao Y, Sakuragi T, Natsuaki M, Itoh T. Clinicopathological analysis of prognostic factors in clinical IA peripheral adenocarcinoma of the lung.  Ann Thorac Surg. 2003;  75 (4) 1113-1117
  • 27 Ebright M I, Zakowski M F, Martin J et al.. Clinical pattern and pathologic stage but not histologic features predict outcome for bronchioloalveolar carcinoma.  Ann Thorac Surg. 2002;  74 (5) 1640-1646 discussion 1646-1647
  • 28 Zell J A, Ou S HI, Ziogas A, Anton-Culver H. Epidemiology of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma: improvement in survival after release of the 1999 WHO classification of lung tumors.  J Clin Oncol. 2005;  23 (33) 8396-8405
  • 29 Zell J A, Ou S HI, Ziogas A, Anton-Culver H. Long-term survival differences for bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma patients with ipsilateral intrapulmonary metastasis at diagnosis.  Ann Oncol. 2006;  17 (8) 1255-1262
  • 30 Barlesi F, Doddoli C, Gimenez C et al.. Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma: myths and realities in the surgical management.  Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2003;  24 (1) 159-164
  • 31 Yang Z G, Sone S, Takashima S et al.. High-resolution CT analysis of small peripheral lung adenocarcinomas revealed on screening helical CT.  AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2001;  176 (6) 1399-1407
  • 32 Terasaki H, Kato S, Matsuno Y et al.. Lung adenocarcinoma, mixed subtype: histopathologic basis for high-resolution computed tomography findings.  J Thorac Imaging. 2010 May 4;  [Epub ahead of print]
  • 33 Takashima S, Maruyama Y, Hasegawa M, Saito A, Haniuda M, Kadoya M. High-resolution CT features: prognostic significance in peripheral lung adenocarcinoma with bronchioloalveolar carcinoma components.  Respiration. 2003;  70 (1) 36-42
  • 34 Aoki T, Tomoda Y, Watanabe H et al.. Peripheral lung adenocarcinoma: correlation of thin-section CT findings with histologic prognostic factors and survival.  Radiology. 2001;  220 (3) 803-809
  • 35 Garfield D H, Cadranel J L, Wislez M, Franklin W A, Hirsch F R. The bronchioloalveolar carcinoma and peripheral adenocarcinoma spectrum of diseases.  J Thorac Oncol. 2006;  1 (4) 344-359
  • 36 Sawada E, Nambu A, Motosugi U et al.. Localized mucinous bronchioloalveolar carcinoma of the lung: thin-section computed tomography and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography findings.  Jpn J Radiol. 2010;  28 (4) 251-258
  • 37 Aoki T, Nakata H, Watanabe H et al.. Evolution of peripheral lung adenocarcinomas: CT findings correlated with histology and tumor doubling time.  AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2000;  174 (3) 763-768
  • 38 Hasegawa M, Sone S, Takashima S et al.. Growth rate of small lung cancers detected on mass CT screening.  Br J Radiol. 2000;  73 (876) 1252-1259
  • 39 MacMahon H, Austin J H, Gamsu G Fleischner Society et al. Guidelines for management of small pulmonary nodules detected on CT scans: a statement from the Fleischner Society.  Radiology. 2005;  237 (2) 395-400
  • 39a Gould M K, Maclean C C, Kushner W G. et al. Accuracy of positron emission tomography for diagnosis of pulmonary nodules and mass lesions.  JAMA. 2001;  285 (7) 914-924
  • 40 Eisenberg R L, Bankier A A, Boiselle P M. Compliance with Fleischner Society guidelines for management of small lung nodules: a survey of 834 radiologists.  Radiology. 2010;  255 (1) 218-224
  • 41 Higashi K, Ueda Y, Seki H et al.. Fluorine-18-FDG PET imaging is negative in bronchioloalveolar lung carcinoma.  J Nucl Med. 1998;  39 (6) 1016-1020
  • 42 Kim B T, Kim Y, Lee K S et al.. Localized form of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma: FDG PET findings.  AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1998;  170 (4) 935-939
  • 43 Lowe V J, Fletcher J W, Gobar L et al.. Prospective investigation of positron emission tomography in lung nodules.  J Clin Oncol. 1998;  16 (3) 1075-1084
  • 44 Heyneman L E, Patz E F. PET imaging in patients with bronchioloalveolar cell carcinoma.  Lung Cancer. 2002;  38 (3) 261-266
  • 45 Marom E M, Sarvis S, Herndon II J E, Patz Jr E F. T1 lung cancers: sensitivity of diagnosis with fluorodeoxyglucose PET.  Radiology. 2002;  223 (2) 453-459
  • 46 Lee K S, Jeong Y J, Han J, Kim B T, Kim H, Kwon O J. T1 non-small cell lung cancer: imaging and histopathologic findings and their prognostic implications.  Radiographics. 2004;  24 (6) 1617-1636 discussion 1632-1636
  • 47 Jeong H J, Min J J, Park J M et al.. Determination of the prognostic value of [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose uptake by using positron emission tomography in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.  Nucl Med Commun. 2002;  23 (9) 865-870
  • 48 Regnard J F, Santelmo N, Romdhani N et al.. Bronchioloalveolar lung carcinoma: results of surgical treatment and prognostic factors.  Chest. 1998;  114 (1) 45-50
  • 49 Rena O, Papalia E, Ruffini E et al.. Stage I pure bronchioloalveolar carcinoma: recurrences, survival and comparison with adenocarcinoma of the lung.  Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2003;  23 (3) 409-414
  • 50 Breathnach O S, Kwiatkowski D J, Finkelstein D M et al.. Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma of the lung: recurrences and survival in patients with stage I disease.  J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2001;  121 (1) 42-47
  • 51 Yamato Y, Tsuchida M, Watanabe T et al.. Early results of a prospective study of limited resection for bronchioloalveolar adenocarcinoma of the lung.  Ann Thorac Surg. 2001;  71 (3) 971-974
  • 52 Watanabe S, Watanabe T, Arai K, Kasai T, Haratake J, Urayama H. Results of wedge resection for focal bronchioloalveolar carcinoma showing pure ground-glass attenuation on computed tomography.  Ann Thorac Surg. 2002;  73 (4) 1071-1075
  • 53 Nakata M, Sawada S, Saeki H et al.. Prospective study of thoracoscopic limited resection for ground-glass opacity selected by computed tomography.  Ann Thorac Surg. 2003;  75 (5) 1601-1605 discussion 1605-1606
  • 54 Ishiwa N, Ogawa N, Shoji A et al.. Correlation between lymph node micrometastasis and histologic classification of small lung adenocarcinomas, in considering the indication of limited surgery.  Lung Cancer. 2003;  39 (2) 159-164
  • 55 Koike T, Yamato Y, Yoshiya K, Shimoyama T, Suzuki R. Intentional limited pulmonary resection for peripheral T1 N0 M0 small-sized lung cancer.  J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2003;  125 (4) 924-928
  • 56 Yamato Y, Koike T, Yoshiya K, Shinohara H, Toyabe S. Results of surgical treatment for small (2 cm or under) adenocarcinomas of the lung.  Surg Today. 2008;  38 (2) 109-114
  • 57 Watanabe T, Okada A, Imakiire T, Koike T, Hirono T. Intentional limited resection for small peripheral lung cancer based on intraoperative pathologic exploration.  Jpn J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2005;  53 (1) 29-35
  • 58 Bell D W, Lynch T J, Haserlat S M et al.. Epidermal growth factor receptor mutations and gene amplification in non-small-cell lung cancer: molecular analysis of the IDEAL/INTACT gefitinib trials.  J Clin Oncol. 2005;  23 (31) 8081-8092
  • 59 Sørensen J B, Hirsch F R, Olsen J. The prognostic implication of histopathologic subtyping of pulmonary adenocarcinoma according to the classification of the World Health Organization. An analysis of 259 consecutive patients with advanced disease.  Cancer. 1988;  62 (2) 361-367
  • 60 Breathnach O S, Ishibe N, Williams J, Linnoila R I, Caporaso N, Johnson B E. Clinical features of patients with stage IIIB and IV bronchioloalveolar carcinoma of the lung.  Cancer. 1999;  86 (7) 1165-1173
  • 61 Pao W, Miller V A, Kris M G. ‘Targeting’ the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase with gefitinib (Iressa) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).  Semin Cancer Biol. 2004;  14 (1) 33-40
  • 62 Pao W, Wang T Y, Riely G J et al.. KRAS mutations and primary resistance of lung adenocarcinomas to gefitinib or erlotinib.  PLoS Med. 2005;  2 (1) e17
  • 63 Fukuoka M, Yano S, Giaccone G et al.. Multi-institutional randomized phase II trial of gefitinib for previously treated patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (The IDEAL 1 Trial) [corrected].  J Clin Oncol. 2003;  21 (12) 2237-2246
  • 64 Kris M G, Natale R B, Herbst R S et al.. Efficacy of gefitinib, an inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase, in symptomatic patients with non-small cell lung cancer: a randomized trial.  JAMA. 2003;  290 (16) 2149-2158
  • 65 Dudek A Z, Kmak K L, Koopmeiners J, Keshtgarpour M. Skin rash and bronchoalveolar histology correlates with clinical benefit in patients treated with gefitinib as a therapy for previously treated advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.  Lung Cancer. 2006;  51 (1) 89-96
  • 66 Miller V A, Kris M G, Shah N et al.. Bronchioloalveolar pathologic subtype and smoking history predict sensitivity to gefitinib in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.  J Clin Oncol. 2004;  22 (6) 1103-1109
  • 67 Lee D H, Han J Y, Lee H G et al.. Gefitinib as a first-line therapy of advanced or metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung in never-smokers.  Clin Cancer Res. 2005;  11 (8) 3032-3037
  • 68 Argiris A, Mittal N. Gefitinib as first-line, compassionate use therapy in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.  Lung Cancer. 2004;  43 (3) 317-322
  • 69 Shepherd F A, Rodrigues Pereira J, Ciuleanu T National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group et al. Erlotinib in previously treated non-small-cell lung cancer.  N Engl J Med. 2005;  353 (2) 123-132
  • 70 Tsao M S, Sakurada A, Cutz J C et al.. Erlotinib in lung cancer—molecular and clinical predictors of outcome.  N Engl J Med. 2005;  353 (2) 133-144
  • 71 Mok T S, Wu Y L, Thongprasert S et al.. Gefitinib or carboplatin-paclitaxel in pulmonary adenocarcinoma.  N Engl J Med. 2009;  361 (10) 947-957
  • 72 Sequist L V, Bell D W, Lynch T J, Haber D A. Molecular predictors of response to epidermal growth factor receptor antagonists in non-small-cell lung cancer.  J Clin Oncol. 2007;  25 (5) 587-595
  • 73 Nicholson A G, Gonzalez D, Shah P et al.. Refining the diagnosis and EGFR status of non-small cell lung carcinoma in biopsy and cytologic material, using a panel of mucin staining, TTF-1, cytokeratin 5/6, and P63, and EGFR mutation analysis.  J Thorac Oncol. 2010;  5 (4) 436-441
  • 74 Yamada S, Kohno T. Video-assisted thoracic surgery for pure ground-glass opacities 2 cm or less in diameter.  Ann Thorac Surg. 2004;  77 (6) 1911-1915

Douglas ArenbergM.D. 

Division of Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School

6301 MSRB III SPC 5642, 1150 West Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Email: darenber@umich.edu