A case of typical pulmonary carcinoid tumor treated with bronchoscopic therapy followed by lobectomy

Abstract

Carcinoid bronchopulmonary tumors represent approximately 25% of all carcinoid tumors and 1%–2% of all lung neoplasms. The most common symptoms are: persistent cough, asthma-like wheezing, chest pain, dyspnea, hemoptysis and obstructive pneumonitis. We present a case of a young adult diagnosed with a typical carcinoid tumor. The diagnosis was established on the basis of imaging examination and bronchoscopic biopsy. The patient was treated with bronchoscopic electrocautery therapy to relieve the obstructed airway, followed by surgical lobectomy in order to entirely remove the exophytic damage. This approach was not only a palliative management to bronchial obstruction but also avoided pneumonectomy. Recent studies support the use of such interventional resection methods, as they may result in a more conservative surgical resection.

Keywords:

• carcinoid tumor
• typical lung carcinoid
• therapeutic bronchoscopy
• surgical resection

Disclosures

The authors declare no conflicts of interest in this work. Written informed consent for publication of this case report and all accompanying images was obtained from the patient upon discharge.