Carcinoid Tumor with Localized Bronchiectasis

Bronchial carcinoid tumor comprises 1 to 3% of lung neoplasms. The common age of onset is mainly post-puberty although atypical carcinoid tumors occur at ages 44 to 55. Carcinoid tumors cause two groups of symptoms in patients: symptoms due to obstruction and symptoms due to the production and release of active neuropeptides. Histologically, carcinoid tumors are categorized into two groups of typical and atypical while in terms of location of lesion, they are grouped into central and peripheral types. Differentiation between malignant and benign carcinoid tumors is based on presence or absence of metastasis. Bronchoscopy and endobronchial biopsy are the best diagnostic measures in these patients. Serologic evaluation and assessment of active metabolites in case of liver metastasis also help the diagnosis. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice for this condition. This report discusses a patient with carcinoid tumor who was receiving bronchodilator treatment for a couple of months because of chronic cough with possible diagnosis of asthma and had received several courses of antibiotic therapy with possible diagnosis of lung infection until he eventually developed bronchiectasis in the right lower lobe. In patients with chronic pulmonary symptoms especially with localized bronchiectasis, diagnostic bronchoscopy must be included in the diagnostic work-up to rule out intrabronchial lesions.