Atypical carcinoid presenting as mesothelioma

Two patients presented with pleuritic pain and dyspnoe together with pleural thickening on the X-ray of the chest. In both a history of exposure to asbestos existed suggesting mesothelioma. A definite diagnosis could not be made and therefore therapy was symptomatic. Autopsy revealed the unexpected diagnosis of atypical carcinoid of the lung. In one case, pleural spread of tumor was seen while in the other an extensive fibrotic pleural reaction existed. To our knowledge these cases represent the first examples of atypical carcinoid causing pseudomesothelioma.