An 18-year history of a corticotropin-secreting spindle cell carcinoid in the lung

A unique case is reported demonstrating latency and slow growth of a spindle-cell carcinoid in the lung. Seventeen years after bilateral adrenalectomy, performed for Cushing's syndrome, a patient presented with a newly developed lung tumor. The tumor demonstrated spindle cell histology, neurosecretory granules typical for carcinoid, and a positive immunoreactivity for corticotropin. After the removal of the lung tumor, the high serum corticotropin level returned to normal.