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Progressive dyspnea due to pulmonary carcinoid tumorlets
Anastasios Kallianos1, Lemonia Velentza1, Paul Zarogoulidis2
1Division of Pulmonology, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Alexandra Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Respiratory Medicine Case Reports
|April 19, 2017
Summary
This case study describes a rare symptomatic pulmonary carcinoid tumorlet in a 77-year-old woman presenting with dyspnea and cough. The findings highlight a potentially asymptomatic condition manifesting clinically.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Pathology
- Thoracic Oncology
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Pulmonary carcinoid tumorlets are uncommon, typically benign lesions.
- These lesions are usually asymptomatic, with diagnosis often incidental.
- This case presents a deviation from the typical asymptomatic presentation.
Observation:
- A 77-year-old female presented with progressive dyspnea and cough.
- Imaging revealed diffuse ground glass opacities, alveolitis, bronchiectasis, fibrotic lesions, and micronodules.
- Arterial blood gases showed mild hypoxemia (PaO2 72 mmHg); spirometry was normal.
Findings:
- Thoracoscopic biopsy confirmed pulmonary carcinoid tumorlets.
- Immunohistochemical markers were positive for CK8/18, CD56, TTF-1, and synaptophysin.
- The patient's symptomatic presentation with these findings is noteworthy.
Implications:
- This case underscores that pulmonary carcinoid tumorlets can present symptomatically.
- It highlights the importance of considering rare diagnoses in patients with unexplained respiratory symptoms.
- Further research may elucidate the factors contributing to symptomatic presentation of tumorlets.