Abstract
Carcinoid tumours are rare neuroendocrine neoplasms that mostly occur in younger adults with low tendencies to metastasise. Based on their histological characteristics, they are divided into typical and atypical subtypes. The most common presenting symptoms are due to central airway obstruction.
The first step in the diagnostic assessment should be a computed tomography (CT) scan, as it provides information both for local tumour extent and lymph node involvement. Bronchoscopy is the main tool for histological confirmation, evaluation of bronchial wall invasion and removal of endobronchial manifestation with subsequent resolution of atelectasis. Endobronchial ultrasound may be necessary to rule out lymph node metastasis. Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy in combination with CT can rule out further metastatic disease.
Surgical resection using parenchyma-sparing techniques remains the gold standard for treatment. For selected patients, endobronchial therapy could be an alternative for minimal invasiveness. Long-term follow-up is suggested due to the high likelihood of recurrence.
Here, we describe our clinical experience in a 35-year-old male patient who originally presented with haemoptysis and a central polypoid tumour in the left main bronchus revealed by a CT scan. The histological characteristics were indicative of a typical carcinoid. The patient was treated using an endobronchial approach only. No complications and no recurrences have been observed in a follow-up of 2 years.
Abstract
Endoscopic resection of bronchial carcinoids may be a feasible and safe treatment option for patients with localised tumour manifestation, who are not suitable for or who are unwilling to undergo thoracic surgery https://bit.ly/33yKgwm
Footnotes
Provenance: Submitted article, peer reviewed
Conflict of interest: A. Papaporfyriou reports grants from European Respiratory Society, during the conduct of the study.
Conflict of interest: J. Domayer has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: M. Meilinger has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: I. Firlinger has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: G-C. Funk has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: U. Setinek has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: K. Kostikas has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: A. Valipour has nothing to disclose.
Support statement: Funding was received from the European Respiratory Society (Clinical Training Fellowship April 2019). Funding information for this article has been deposited with the Crossref Funder Registry.
- Received April 23, 2020.
- Accepted August 2, 2020.
- Copyright ©ERS 2021.
This article is open access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Licence 4.0.