Bronchial carcinoid tumors: radiologic observations in 49 cases

• Published in: Journal of thoracic imaging Vol. 6; no. 2; p. 47
• Main Authors: Nessi, R, Basso Ricci, P, Basso Ricci, S, Bosco, M, Blanc, M, Uslenghi, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.04.1991
• Subjects: Bronchial Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Bronchial Neoplasms - pathology; Carcinoid Tumor - diagnostic imaging; Carcinoid Tumor - pathology; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic - diagnostic imaging; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic - pathology; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Pulmonary Atelectasis - diagnostic imaging; Retrospective Studies; Tomography, X-Ray; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 0883-5993
• DOI: 10.1097/00005382-199104000-00011

A retrospective evaluation was performed of radiographs obtained in 49 cases of bronchial carcinoid at presentation and during a follow-up period of 12 years. Histologic diagnosis from the surgical specimen was available in all cases. Carcinoids appeared most frequently (77%) as round or oval opacities with sharp and often notched margins. They often induced airway compression with pulmonary atelectasis; enlarged hilar lymph nodes from metastasis were rare. Recurrence after surgical removal was not frequent; the recurrent masses had the same radiographic features as the original tumor. The diagnosis of bronchial carcinoid must be taken into consideration when a slowly growing radiopaque mass with well-defined margins is discovered on chest films. The radiologist must remember that these tumors can be resected with a fairly good prognosis even when they are large.