Synchronous Pulmonary Adenocarcinomas

Am J Clin Pathol. 2020 Jun 8;154(1):57-69. doi: 10.1093/ajcp/aqaa023.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine concordance/discordance between morphology and molecular testing (MT) among synchronous pulmonary carcinomas using targeted next generation sequencing (NGS), with and without comprehensive molecular review (CMR), vs analyses of multiple singe genes (non-NGS).

Methods: Results of morphologic and MT assessment were classified as concordant, discordant, or indeterminate. For discordant cases, comprehensive histologic assessment (CHA) was performed.

Results: Forty-seven cases with 108 synchronous tumors were identified and underwent MT (NGS, n = 23 and non-NGS, n = 24). Histology and MT were concordant, discordant, and indeterminate in 53% (25/47), 21% (10/47), and 26% (12/47) of cases, respectively. CHA of the 10 discordant cases revised results of three cases.

Conclusions: There is discordance between histology and MT in a subset of cases and MT provides an objective surrogate for staging synchronous tumors. A limited gene panel is sufficient for objectively assessing a relationship if the driver mutations are distinct. Relatedness of mutations require CMR with a larger NGS panel (eg, 50 genes).

Keywords: Lung adenocarcinoma; Molecular; Multiple; Next-generation sequencing; Synchronous.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung / diagnosis
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung / genetics*
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung / pathology
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / diagnosis
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / pathology
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / genetics*
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / pathology