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Carcinoid Tumor
Etiology

Unknown.
Pathogenesis

Neoplasms exhibit features of Kulchitsky cells.,
Epidemiology

Extremely uncommon.
More frequent in young patients <40 years.
Unrelated to cigarette smoking
General Gross Description

Polypoid tan mass protruding into the lumen of a major bronchus
Cut surfaces are yellow
Distal obstructive pneumonia may be profound with dilated mucous filled airways and consolidated firm parenchyma
Atypical carcinoids tend to occur on the periphery of the lung.
•Examples:
Atypical Carcinoid Carcinoid Tumor of the Lung
General Microscopic Description

Typical or mature carcinoids are composed of cells arranged in cords, nests or trabeculae
Richly vascularized
Nuclei are round, regular, with delicate chromatin pattern and inconspicuous nucleoli
Atypical carcinoids exhibit nuclear enlargement and pleomorphism as well as solid pattern
Stain with antibodies to neuron specific-enolase and chromogranin
•Examples:
Clinical Correlation

Cough with hemoptysis
Systemic symptoms of distal pneumonia including fever, malaise, sweats etc.
Low grade neoplasms may metastasize to adjacent nodes
Many respond to removal of affected bronchus and lung
Alternative management can include laser ablation of the neoplasm
Atypical carcinoids are considered low grade malignancies.
Most malignant end of neuroendocrine neoplasm group is small cell carcinoma.
References

Cotran RS, Kumar V, Robbins SL: Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease. 5th edition. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, 1994, pp. 726-727.
Dail DH, Hammar SP. Pulmonary Pathology. 2nd edition. New York: Springer-Verlag, 1994. pp. 1207-1221.

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Carcinoid Tumor
Synopsis by: Melinda Sanders M.D. (T28000M82401)[132]
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