[Bronchopulmonary carcinoids: surgical therapy and prognosis]

From 1976 to 1996 sixty patients with bronchopulmonary carcinoid were operated on at our institution. Post-operative histologic examination revealed typical carcinoid tumors in 50 cases and atypical carcinoid tumors in 10 cases. Preoperative diagnosis was correct in 32 cases (53%) and wrong in 11 cases (18%). In 17 cases (29%) we carried out a diagnostic thoracotomy. Resection was potentially for cure in 55/60 patients. Five-year-survival rates were 100% for patients with typical carcinoid tumors and 97% and 92% at 10 and 15 years, respectively. Regional lymphatic tissue was involved in typical (12%) as well as in atypical carcinoid tumors (20%). Furthermore distant metastasis occurred in both types of tumors, 4% in typical and 11% in atypical carcinoid tumors. There was no relationship between lymph node involvement and distant metastasis. Local recurrence was seen in 2/60 patients. Both patients suffered from atypical carcinoid tumors. Patients in whom only incomplete resection due to advanced tumor stage was possible showed no benefit from operative therapy.