Carcinoma and diffuse interstitial fibrosis of lung

A review of 16 cases of diffuse interstitial fibrosis of the lung revealed three cases of coexistent carcinoma of the lung. All three tumors occurred in regions of severe fibrosis. There was one instance each of squamous cell carcinoma, small cell undifferentiated carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma. The three patients were men with a mean age of 66 years. Review of the tissue sections of the diffuse interstitial fibrosis suggests an apparent transition from atypical or dysplastic bronchiolar-alveolar epithelium to carcinoma. The greater rarity of pulmonary carcinomas in diffuse interstitial fibrosis, as contrasted with localized or focal interstitial fibrosis, may be related to the shortening of life by the diffuse lesion.