Bronchial carcinoid tumor: experience over 20 years.

Nineteen cases of bronchial carcinoid tumor seen over 20 years in a 1,000-bed, tertiary medical center were retrospectively reviewed. They consisted of 0.4 per cent of all patients with lung tumors. Initial complaints were hemoptysis, persistent pulmonary infection, chest pain, and diarrhea. Two of the five patients with atypical carcinoid tumors came to the hospital with diarrhea as a result of their chemically active tumors. However, seven patients (36%) were asymptomatic and were diagnosed after an abnormal chest radiograph was noted incidentally. Of 13 patients receiving bronchoscopic examination, 9 (69%) had visible tumors. Bronchial biopsy was performed in 7 patients and led to a diagnosis in all seven. Significant bleeding was noted in 3 patients as a result of biopsy. Lobectomy was the most common surgical procedure in this series. Follow-up of these patients was from 6 months to 15 years. The general outcome for patients with typical carcinoid was good. However, all patients with atypical carcinoid died as a result of dissemination.