[Bronchus carcinoid tumor in the Tessin canton, retrospective analysis of 13 years and literature review].

Between 1981 and 1993, 27 bronchial carcinoids were diagnosed in patients living in the Swiss Canton of Ticino, with a mean age of 55 (24-78) years. The incidence was 0.79/100,000 inhabitants. Main symptoms were cough (41%), hemoptysis (30%) and bronchial obstruction such as pneumonia or atelectasis (26%). There were no cases with carcinoid crisis. Preoperative evaluation included chest X-ray (100%), bronchoscopic biopsy (84%), computed tomography (44%) and mediastinoscopy (15%). Some 69% of the patients underwent lobectomy and 15% segmental resection. Pneumonectomy was required for curative surgery in 2 patients. One patient underwent bronchoscopic resection. Surgery is generally indicated. The 5-year survival rate for typical carcinoid was 94% and was significantly reduced to 42% in atypical carcinoid cases (p = 0.02). Prognosis after radical surgery is favorable and depends mainly on lymph node involvement and the histological type of carcinoid.