Lung Carcinoma

Lung cancer cells surround a fragment of cartilage.

Individuals who die of cancer are often under the care of a physician who will sign their death certificate, and as such don't require post-mortem examinations at the medical examiner's office. However, pathologists occasionally encounter natural deaths due to cancer that were previously undiagnosed for whatever reason - late presentation, inability to get care, or masking of symptoms due to other issues. This image shows the relative disorganization of cancer cells due to unchecked growth. Advanced tumors may show central necrosis - that is, death of part of a tumor mass - because the lesion has grown faster than the body's blood supply.