Emerging therapies and current standards in pulmonary carcinoid management

Relative to other lung tumors, pulmonary carcinoid tumors are rare and have unique histopathological and clinical features. The purpose of this review is to summarize the presentation and management of pulmonary carcinoid tumors, with a particular focus on recent clinical trials in the management of advanced and metastatic disease.

Surgical resection remains a central tenet in the management of pulmonary carcinoid tumors that are localized and even those that have locoregional spread. However, in recent years, the treatment of pulmonary carcinoid has expanded to include several systemic hormonal and cytotoxic therapies as well as radiation and endobronchial strategies. The decision to initiate any of these therapies as either primary or adjuvant treatment after resection depends upon several factors including tumor stage, disease burden, patient's functional status, and whether they will tolerate surgery.

The treatment of pulmonary carcinoid tumors has expanded beyond just surgical resection. Novel regimens of systemic hormonal and cytotoxic therapies as well as radiation and endobronchial intervention should be customized for each patient by a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, pulmonologists, and pathologists.