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Precision Molecular Pathology of Lung Cancer pp 57–75Cite as

The 2015 World Health Organisation Classification of Lung Cancer

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Part of the book series: Molecular Pathology Library ((MPLB))

Abstract

The World Health Organisation classification of lung cancer is the framework upon which most pathologists worldwide make a standardised and consistent diagnosis of this highly varied and frequently aggressive group of malignant tumours. In the latest edition of the classification, published in 2015, several new changes were introduced. Several of these changes were driven by our greater understanding of the molecular biology of lung cancer and how this is shaping not only our conceptual thinking about these tumours but also how we treat patients suffering from them. Improved radiological imaging and a better understanding of how adenocarcinoma of the lung develops have changed the way we classify particularly early forms of this tumour type. Neuroendocrine tumours, formerly dispersed in various places within the old classifications, are now gathered in one place. Most important of all, from a practical point of view, the classification now includes a diagnostic strategy and an associated nomenclature, for dealing with those small tissue and cytology samples with minimal representation of tumour.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, UK

    Gavin M Laing

  2. Department of Pathology, Aberdeen University Medical School, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, UK

    Keith M Kerr

Authors
  1. Gavin M Laing
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  2. Keith M Kerr
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Keith M Kerr .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology & Genomic Medici, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA

    Philip T. Cagle

  2. Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA

    Timothy Craig Allen

  3. Department of Pathology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York, USA

    Mary Beth Beasley

  4. Department of Pathology, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Lucian R. Chirieac

  5. Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Sanja Dacic

  6. Department of Pathology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA

    Alain C. Borczuk

  7. Department of Pathology, Aberdeen University Medical School, Aberdeen, United Kingdom

    Keith M. Kerr

  8. Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Lynette M. Sholl

  9. Medical Innovation, Roche Tissue Diagnostics, Ventana Medical Systems, Tucson, Arizona, USA

    Bryce Portier

  10. Cancer Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA

    Eric H. Bernicker

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© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

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Laing, G.M., Kerr, K.M. (2018). The 2015 World Health Organisation Classification of Lung Cancer. In: Cagle, P., et al. Precision Molecular Pathology of Lung Cancer. Molecular Pathology Library. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62941-4_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62941-4_5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-62940-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-62941-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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