Pleural invasion by a lung cancer has significant implications for patient survival and can increase the patient's pathologic stage.
Patient selection: lung cancer at or beneath the visceral pleura
Testing: elastic stain, such as elastic-Van Gieson
Tumor Extension
Designation
does not extend beyond the elastic layer of the visceral pleura
PL0
extends beyond the elastic layer but not to the visceral pleural surface
PL1
extends to the visceral pleural surface
PL2
invasion of the parietal pleura
PL3
The prognosis for a patient with PL3 is poor.
PL1 and PL2 are associated with comparable survival, which is worse than for a patient with PL0.
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Specialty: Hematology Oncology, Surgery, general, Pulmonology