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[Diagnosis and therapy of well-differentiated neuroendocrine lung tumors]
Introduction:
Neuroendocrine tumours of the lung are uncommon malignant neoplasms. They represent a heterogeneous spectrum of disease, encompassing the well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumours through to small-cell lung cancer, which has a poor prognosis and only palliative therapeutic options for most patients. Due to the low incidence of well-differentiated lung tumours there is as yet little experience.
Methods:
Clinical records of 14 patients with well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumours of the lung were assessed retrospectively for patients' initial symptomatology, diagnostic procedures, therapy and results.
Results:
Eight lobectomies, 2 bronchoplastic lobectomies, 2 segmental resections, 1 bilobectomy and 1 wedge resection were performed; seven of them without regional lymphadenectomy. All patients were alive after a mean follow-up of 38 (2-96) months. Thirteen of 14 patients were free of complaints, twelve had no recurrences and returned to work.
Conclusions:
Well-differentiated NET of the lung have an excellent prognosis after curative resection. Limited resections even without lymphadenectomy can be performed in some cases.