[Bronchial carcinoids: report of 17 cases]

Seventeen cases of bronchial carcinoids were treated surgically from 1967 to 1989. Of these, 11 were female and 6 were male. The age ranged from 15 to 58 years and 11 cases (64.7%) were under 40 years of age. The peak incidence differs markedly form that of bronchogenic carcinoma. Bronchial carcinoid is a primary bronchial tumor of low malignancy, they may have lymphatic metastases and recurrence after operation. Surgical resection is the main treatment. Local resection was performed in one, enucleation in 3, wedge resection in 4, lobectomy in 7 and bronchoplastic lobectomy in 2.5-year survival rate was 93%. The indications for each mode of resection are discussed and the principles of complete eradication of tumor with maximal reservation of functioning lung are emphasized.