[Bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumors: Tunisian experience with 115 surgically treated cases]

Bronchial carcinoid tumors are rare well-differentiated, neuro-endocrine tumors, with low-grade malignancy. They are distinguished in two different groups: typical and atypical carcinoid. The purpose of this study was to review clinical, surgical and pathological characteristics in patients with primary bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumors.

This retrospective study included 115 bronchial carcinoid tumors surgically treated at a single institution during a twenty-one-year period, between 1992 and 2012.

There were 56 men and 59 women, with a mean age of 43.73 years. Hundred patients had typical carcinoids and 15 atypical carcinoids. The majority of patients were symptomatic (96.52%). CT revealed a proximal mass in 51% which was obstructive leading to ventilator disorders in 80%. Bronchoscopy showed an endo-bronchial tumor in 83.48% of the cases. Anatomical resection had been achieved among 99 patients, and a conservative resection among 16 patients with typical carcinoid tumor. Lymph node metastases were present in 12.17% of the cases. Follow-up revealed recurrence in one patient and distant metastasis in 4 others. The 5-year survival rate was worse for atypical carcinoid with 45% than typical carcinoid with 95%.

Carcinoids are rare malignant tumors, and their outcome is usually favorable after surgery. However, local recurrence and/or metastases can occur with both typical and atypical carcinoid tumors, justifying the need of prompt diagnosis and long-term follow-up. The factors influencing the survival included the pathological type, distant metastasis and mediastinal lymph node involvement.