Respiratory Pathology · Pathology

A biopsy of a lung mass reveals small, round-to-oval cells with scant cytoplasm, 'salt and pepper' chromatin, and frequent nuclear molding. What is the most likely diagnosis?

  1. Adenocarcinoma
  2. Squamous cell carcinoma
  3. Small cell carcinoma
  4. Large cell carcinoma
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Correct answer: Small cell carcinoma

Small cell carcinoma is a high-grade neuroendocrine tumor characterized by small cells with minimal cytoplasm and finely granular (salt and pepper) chromatin. Nuclear molding is a distinctive feature caused by the close apposition of cells with scant cytoplasm.

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