I hope you won't mind but I merged your 2 threads. If there is to be a discussion it would get watered down if split. So I think we can give you the best attention on this one thread.
On size Dr. West noted, "BAC with lesions less than 2 cm is now being designated as a pre-cancerous adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS), which essentially means it’s a pre-invasive condition with a favorable prognosis. In fact, the available literature, largely from Japan but also including evidence from other parts of the world, shows a 100% 5-year survival for a <2 cm AIS, which is far more commonly the non-mucinous BAC sybtype. The size limit is significant, however, because larger lesions are felt far more likely to have at least some area of invasive disease." from http://cancergrace.org/lung/2009/08/06/bac-no-more/
On the definition of multifocal Dr. Pennell wrote, , "No one knows for certain if multifocal BAC represents metastases from one original tumor or if this is what is known as a "field defect" in which the lung sprouts new BACs in multiple areas. The current staging system considers them as T3 if multiple BACs are in the same lobe, T4 in the same lung but different lobes, and M1 (metastatic) if they are in both lungs (just like any NSCLC). However, it is clear that the staging system was not designed well for these patients, who can do well for many years with GGOs in both lungs.
It is not uncommon for BAC and even adeno with BAC features to be PET negative." from http://cancergrace.org/forums/index.php?topic=9651.0
I hope this will give you a good start to understanding. Please let us know what further questions you have.
Janine
forum moderator
I would say that the size does matter, in that tiny bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) lesions are more likely to be very slow-growing and potentially clinically significant. A non-invasive adenocarcinoma that is several centimeters has presumably grown over time to something more clinically relevant. But even though size does matter, the rate of change over time is more important, I'd say. It's just that the size of the lesion is somewhat correlated with that.
"Multifocal BAC", "multicentric BAC", and "advanced BAC" are all terms that mean the same thing and are used interchangeably.
Reply # - October 11, 2012, 02:04 AM
Reply To: BAC
Please explain multicentric, multifocal, and metastatic as it relates to BAC.
Reply # - October 11, 2012, 06:29 AM
Reply To: BAC
I hope you won't mind but I merged your 2 threads. If there is to be a discussion it would get watered down if split. So I think we can give you the best attention on this one thread.
This is a listing of 19 blogs posts on the subject of BAC, http://cancergrace.org/lung/category/lung-cancer/core-concepts/bronchio…
On size Dr. West noted, "BAC with lesions less than 2 cm is now being designated as a pre-cancerous adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS), which essentially means it’s a pre-invasive condition with a favorable prognosis. In fact, the available literature, largely from Japan but also including evidence from other parts of the world, shows a 100% 5-year survival for a <2 cm AIS, which is far more commonly the non-mucinous BAC sybtype. The size limit is significant, however, because larger lesions are felt far more likely to have at least some area of invasive disease." from http://cancergrace.org/lung/2009/08/06/bac-no-more/
On the definition of multifocal Dr. Pennell wrote, , "No one knows for certain if multifocal BAC represents metastases from one original tumor or if this is what is known as a "field defect" in which the lung sprouts new BACs in multiple areas. The current staging system considers them as T3 if multiple BACs are in the same lobe, T4 in the same lung but different lobes, and M1 (metastatic) if they are in both lungs (just like any NSCLC). However, it is clear that the staging system was not designed well for these patients, who can do well for many years with GGOs in both lungs.
It is not uncommon for BAC and even adeno with BAC features to be PET negative." from http://cancergrace.org/forums/index.php?topic=9651.0
I hope this will give you a good start to understanding. Please let us know what further questions you have.
Janine
forum moderator
Reply # - October 11, 2012, 04:17 PM
Reply To: BAC
I would say that the size does matter, in that tiny bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) lesions are more likely to be very slow-growing and potentially clinically significant. A non-invasive adenocarcinoma that is several centimeters has presumably grown over time to something more clinically relevant. But even though size does matter, the rate of change over time is more important, I'd say. It's just that the size of the lesion is somewhat correlated with that.
"Multifocal BAC", "multicentric BAC", and "advanced BAC" are all terms that mean the same thing and are used interchangeably.
-Dr. West