[Carcinoids of lungs]

The analysis of the results of the examination and treatment of 29 patients with carcinoids of the lungs has been carried out for 1984-1995. Peripheral carcinoids were detected in 59% of cases, of the tumor in the main and lobar bronchi was revealed in 41% of cases. The analysis showed that there are no symptoms, pathognomonic for carcinoids of the lungs; carcinoid syndrome was not detected in any patient. The examination (roentgenography and CT of the lungs, bronchoscopy) has not provided any objective, differential diagnostic criteria for carcinoids, cancer and benign tumors of the lungs. Morphological examination of the removed tumors allowed all the carcinoids to be divided in two types: typical (benign neuroendocrine tumor) and atypical (well differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma). The final differentiation is possible only after conduction of thorough histological, electron microscopy and immunohistochemical examination. The principal method of carcinoids treatment is surgical one. The optimal surgical procedure is pneumonectomy or lobectomy with lymphadenectomy. Atypical resection of the lung without lymphadenectomy in peripheral location of the tumor is justified only in early stages of the disease and in cases of morphological verification of benign character of neuroendocrine tumor. Late results were followed up in 27 patients. In the group of patients with atypical carcinoids in terms of 6 to 12 months 3 patients died from progressing of the main disease. There were neither lethal outcomes nor signs of relapse of the disease in the group of patients with typical carcinoid. The terms of follow up were from 1 year to 12 years.