Diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH)

Diffuse idiopathic neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH) is a pre-invasive generalized proliferation of pulmonary neuroendocrine (PNE) cells that has been described in combination with carcinoid tumorlets, obliterative bronchiolitis and other fibrotic lung changes. Since its first recognition as a distinct syndrome in 1992, variable clinico-pathologic features have been used to diagnose DIPNECH in small case series and case reports. We recently proposed the use of the following criteria for the pathologic diagnosis of the syndrome on lung resection specimens: presence of multifocal neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia, as defined by the presence of 5 or more PNE cells in at least 3 separate small airways combined with 3 or more carcinoid tumorlets.

Source: Seminars in Diagnostic Pathology - September 1, 2015 Category: Pathology Authors: Alberto M. Marchevsky, Ann E. Walts Source Type: research