• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.623-629
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• 1996

Bronchial carcinoid tumors are uncommon, constituting approximately 5% of all primary lung cancers. Carcinoid tumors belong to the calss of neuroendocrine tumors that consist of cells that can store and secrete neuramines and neuropeptides. Neuroendocrine tumors of the lung include three pathologic types : a low-grade malignancy, the so-called 'typical carcinoid', a more aggressive tumor, the "atypical carcinoid", and the most aggressive malignant neoplasm, the small-cell carcinoma. Atypical carcinoid tumor have a higher malignant potential, is more commonly peripheral than is the typical carcinoid tumor. Histologic features would characterize a carcinoid as hitologically atypical : increased mitotic activity, pleomorphism and irregularity of neuclei with promonent nucleoli, hyperchromatin, and abnormal nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio, areas of increased cellularity with disorganization of architecture, and areas of tumor necrosis. Metastatic involvement of regional lymph nodes and distant organ is common. The prognosis is related to size of the tumor, typical of atypical appearance, endoluminal of extraluminal growth, vascular invasion, node metastasis, Pulmonary resection is the treatement of choice for bronchial carcinoid. We experienced one case of bronchopulmonary atypical carcinoid tumor. In the case, radiologic study showed solitary lung mass with liver metastasis and the level of 5-HIAA was elevated. There was no history of cutaneous flushing, diarrhea, valvular heart disease. The authors reported a case of bronchopulmonary atypical carcinoid tumor with review of literatures.