Table 3.

Description for each stage of lung SCC histology characteristics.

Stages	Characteristics
Normal	Single layer of columnar bronchial epithelial cells
Hyperplasia	> 1 layer of columnar bronchial epithelial cells
Metaplasia	Columnar bronchial epithelial cells were replaced by squamous epithelial cells while maintaining hyperplasia characteristic
Dysplasia	A high degree of nuclear pleomorphism and horizontally orientated nuclei were observed at the upper epithelium. The cells also lose orderly differentiation, irregular in shape, and have a high nucleus to cytoplasm ratio through the entire thickened epithelium
SCC	The neoplastic cells become irregular in shape, increased nucleus to cytoplasm ratio, and some nuclei were observed as hyperchromatic. The cancer cells are capable of invading surrounding stroma by breaching the basement membrane