Bronchopulmonary Carcinoids in Iceland 1955–1984: A Retrospective Clinical and Histopathologic Study

Abstract

Twenty-two cases of bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumor diagnosed in Iceland in the 30-year period 1955–1984 were analyzed. Carcinoid comprised 2% of all primary lung tumors registered in that period. The crude incidence was 0.36 cases/100000 population/year. The patients' mean age was 48 years and 68% were female. The most common presenting symptom was recurrent pneumonia: only three patients had hemoptysis. One patient had carcinoid syndrome. Two of the 22 tumors were peripheral. Tumor size was 0.8–9 cm, mean 2.8 cm. Of the resectable bronchial tumors, 80% had invaded the pulmonary parenchyma and 18% had metastasized to lymph nodes. Four carcinoid tumors were atypical and showed more malignant behavior. One of them was originally diagnosed as oat-cell carcinoma. Sixteen patients with resectable carcinoid tumor were alive 31/2 to 29 years after removal of the tumor.

Key Words:

• carcinoid tumor
• pulmonary neoplasms
• bronchial neoplasms
• bronchoscopy
• malignant carcinoid syndrome