Bronchial and Thymic Carcinoid Tumors: A Review

Abstract

Bronchial carcinoid tumors are usually indolent, slow-growing tumors with an excellent prognosis. However, even typical carcinoids can metastazise to regional lymph nodes or to distant sites. Atypical carcinoids tend to behave more invasively with more frequent nodal and distant metastases. Despite this, long-term survival can be expected as many tumors grow and spread slowly. At the end of the spectrum are the highly aggressive small cell carcinomas which have a very poor prognosis despite aggressive chemotherapy. Clinically, carcinoid tumors are frequently asymptomatic. Symptoms are most frequently due to obstruction (pneumonia, ‘asthma’, coughing) or bleeding. Carcinoid syndrome is seen infrequently and usually signifies metastatic disease. Cushing’s syndrome is occasionally seen in association with these tumors. The treatment of carcinoid tumors is surgical. Resection should be complete and encompass the regional lymph nodes.

Somatostatin analogues in the control of neuroendocrine tumours: efficacy and mechanisms

“…The latest WHO morphological classification of lung NETs include low-grade typical carcinoid, intermediate-grade atypical carcinoid, the high-grade small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (Beasley et al 2005). While many of the patients with bronchial carcinoids (13-51%) are incidentally detected on routine chest X-ray, presenting symptoms may include cough, haemoptysis, dyspnoea, wheezing, chest pain and recurrent pulmonary infections; the carcinoid syndrome (with flushing, diarrhoea, wheezing and elevated urinary 5-HIAA) occurs in 2-12% of the patients, mostly in those displaying liver metastases (Dusmet & McKneally 1994). An atypical histamine-induced carcinoid syndrome (with severe generalised flushing, swelling, lacrimation, asthma and diarrhoea) may be sometimes observed, while Cushing's syndrome, due to ectopic secretion of ACTH or corticotrophin-releasing hormone, is seen in 2-6% of bronchial carcinoid patients .…”

The role of somatostatin analogues in the treatment of neuroendocrine tumours

“…Presenting symptoms may include cough, hemoptysis, dyspnoea, wheezing, chest pain and recurrent pulmonary infections; the carcinoid syndrome (with flushing, diarrhoea, wheezing and elevated urinary 5-HIAA) is infrequent, occurring in 2%-12% of the patients (Dusmet & McKneally, 1994;Soga et al, 1999a). Liver metastases are detected in most patients displaying the carcinoid syndrome (Davila et al, 1993;Dusmet & McKneally, 1994).…”

Carcinoid A Comprehensive Review

“…Patients with pulmonary carcinoid tumors often have a good prognosis, with 5-year survival rates between 60% and 100% and 10-year survival rates between 40% and 100% (39,40). Symptoms are highly variable and are often present years before diagnosis.…”

“…Symptoms are highly variable and are often present years before diagnosis. Cushing's syndrome occurs in 2% of patients; moreover, 1% of patients presenting with Cushing's syndrome have a pulmonary carcinoid tumor (39,41,42). Acromegaly, from ectopic secretion of growth hormone-releasing hormone, has also been reported in cases of bronchopulmonary carcinoid.…”