small-cell lung cancer
pathology
Also known as: SCLC, oat-cell carcinoma, small-cell carcinoma(Show More)
Quick Summary
Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive form of lung cancer characterized by small, round or oval cells that resemble oat grains and have minimal cytoplasm. It is a subtype of lung cancer, accounting for 10-20% of all cases. SCLC is rarely found in individuals who have never smoked and tends to spread rapidly before symptoms become apparent, leading to a very low survival rate. The primary cause of lung cancer, including SCLC, is smoking, with increased risk associated with heavy and early-onset smoking.12
Summary created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.