Author/Authors :
Ghobadi، Hassan نويسنده , , Farzaneh، Esmaeil نويسنده Department of Internal Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran. , , Darvishkhah، Hossein نويسنده Department of Internal Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran ,
Abstract :
Bronchial carcinoid tumor comprises 1 to 3% of lung neoplasms. The common
age of onset is mainly post-puberty although atypical carcinoid tumors occur at
ages 44 to 55. Carcinoid tumors cause two groups of symptoms in patients:
symptoms due to obstruction and symptoms due to the production and release
of active neuropeptides. Histologically, carcinoid tumors are categorized into
two groups of typical and atypical while in terms of location of lesion, they are
grouped into central and peripheral types. Differentiation between malignant
and benign carcinoid tumors is based on presence or absence of metastasis.
Bronchoscopy and endobronchial biopsy are the best diagnostic measures in
these patients. Serologic evaluation and assessment of active metabolites in case
of liver metastasis also help the diagnosis. Surgical resection is the treatment of
choice for this condition.
This report discusses a patient with carcinoid tumor who was receiving
bronchodilator treatment for a couple of months because of chronic cough with
possible diagnosis of asthma and had received several courses of antibiotic
therapy with possible diagnosis of lung infection until he eventually developed
bronchiectasis in the right lower lobe.
In patients with chronic pulmonary symptoms especially with localized
bronchiectasis, diagnostic bronchoscopy must be included in the diagnostic
work-up to rule out intrabronchial lesions.