The international multidisciplinary classification of lung adenocarcinoma from IASLC/ATS/ERS and problems in clinical practice .

The international multidisciplinary classification of lung adenocarcinoma sponsored by International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer/American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society in 2011, addresses the classification which is appropriate for resection specimens, small biopsies and cytology, respectively for the first time. For resection specimens, new concepts are introduced such as adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA); Invasive adenocarcinomas are recommended to be classified by comprehensive histologic pattern. During the clinical practice, pathologists and clinicians have some confusions in understanding and application of to the new guideline to some extent. This paper will interpret this new guideline, discuss and analyze the issues that need to be noticed in clinical application.