Typical bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumors: a ramifying bronchial presentation with metastatic behavior

Bronchopulmonary typical carcinoid tumors (BTCT) are neuroendocrine neoplasms with histologic low grade characteristics considered benign. However, despite reassuring histologic classification, some of them demonstrate an aggressive nature and metastatic behavior. During a not yet concluded study aiming at establishing criteria to predict this metastatic behavior, three uncommon cases were observed. Metastasis occurred despite typical carcinoid microscopic features in 3 female patients of African origin presenting at macroscopic examination as ramifying bronchopulmonary typical carcinoid tumors following the bronchial tree. We suggest that clinical ramifying presentation may be related to metastatic behavior, even for bronchopulmonary typical carcinoid tumors not displaying histologic criteria for atypical carcinoid tumors.