Lung Carcinoids: A Comprehensive Review for Clinicians.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pulmonary Medicine
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Lung carcinoids are neuroendocrine tumors classified as typical or atypical based on histology.
• These slow-growing neoplasms possess malignant potential and are often incidentally discovered.
• Symptoms can include respiratory issues like cough and dyspnea, with rare endocrine manifestations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of lung carcinoid tumors.
• To discuss diagnosis, treatment strategies, and prognostic factors.
• To emphasize the importance of long-term follow-up for patients.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on lung carcinoid tumors.
• Analysis of diagnostic approaches including imaging and histology.
• Evaluation of treatment modalities for localized and metastatic disease.

Main Results:

• Surgery is the primary treatment for localized lung carcinoids, including cases with lymph node metastases.
• Metastatic disease management involves somatostatin analogues, chemotherapy (e.g., temozolomide), mTOR inhibitors, or PRRT.
• Most patients exhibit an excellent prognosis, though atypical histology and lymph node metastasis are poor prognostic indicators.

Conclusions:

• Lung carcinoids require prompt diagnosis and management, with surgery as the cornerstone for localized disease.
• Multimodal treatment approaches are available for metastatic lung carcinoids.
• Long-term surveillance is crucial due to the potential for late metastasis.