Recognition of filigree pattern expands the concept of micropapillary subtype in patients with surgically resected lung adenocarcinoma

Our study aimed to validate the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) with a filigree pattern and to further investigate the relationship between the filigree pattern and the classical micropapillary (MP) pattern. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and pathologic characteristics of 461 Chinese patients with completely resected ADC (stage I, 310; stage II, 44; stage III, 107). The filigree pattern was more likely to be observed in ADC with a higher stage ( p = 0.003) and the classical MP pattern ( p < 0.001). Patients with filigree-predominant ADC showed poor survival, similar to those with classical MP-predominant ADC. Multivariate analysis confirmed that the presence of the filigree pattern was an independent prognostic factor for recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio (HR), 2.01; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.50–2.68; p < 0.001) and overall survival (OS; HR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.34–2.50; p < 0.001). Patients with both classical MP-positive and filigree-positive ADC had the worst survival compared with those with the filigree pattern or classical MP pattern alone. In stage I, ADC with both the filigree and classical MP patterns had a higher incidence of micrometastasis than ADC with the filigree pattern or classical MP pattern alone. Lymph node micrometastasis indicated poor survival in patients with ADC with the filigree pattern or classical MP pattern. Similar clinicopathologic features between patients with the filigree pattern and the classical MP pattern support the inclusion of the filigree pattern in the MP category. Recognition of the filigree pattern could provide helpful prognostic information, especially for stage I ADC.