The significance of histology: typical and atypical bronchial carcinoids

The Role of Rigid Bronchoscopic Intervention for Bronchial Carcinoid

Bronchial carcinoid is a rare malignant tumor that is categorized as a typical carcinoid or atypical carcinoid. Many institutions use flexible bronchoscopy for diagnosis. However, due to the hemorrhagic nature of the tumor, the amount of specimen obtained is often small, making it difficult to obtain an accurate diagnosis. The use of rigid bronchoscopy may not only contribute to obtaining a diagnosis but also be beneficial in the treatment plan. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of rigid bronchoscopic interventions for the diagnosis and treatment of bronchial carcinoids. All patients with bronchial carcinoids who underwent rigid bronchoscopic intervention under general anesthesia at our institution between June 2006 and August 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. Eight patients [3 men and 5 women; median age, 71 years (range 45-82 years)] were eligible for the analysis. None of the cases had accurate subtyping preoperatively before intervention. In contrast, all cases were diagnosed as carcinoid with subtypes (5 patients had typical carcinoid and 3 had atypical carcinoid) following rigid bronchoscopic intervention. All respiratory symptoms improved immediately after the procedure. One instance of bleeding occurred, and was easily controlled by argon plasma coagulation and intraluminal administration of epinephrine under flexible and rigid bronchoscopy. Four patients (3 with typical carcinoid and 1 with atypical carcinoid) underwent radical surgery sequentially, and no recurrences were observed. We conclude that rigid bronchoscopic intervention is safe and effective for accurate diagnosis and improvement of respiratory symptoms in patients with bronchial carcinoids.

Prognostic significance of histopathological factors in survival and recurrence of atypical carcinoid tumours

OBJECTIVES

Atypical carcinoids are neuroendocrine neoplasms of intermediate degree and low frequency. The aim of this study is to analyse their clinical characteristics and the importance of different histopathological factors in their prognosis.

METHODS

Multicentre cooperative group EMETNE prospectively reviewed 153 patients operated on between 1998 and 2016 with diagnosis of atypical carcinoids. Clinical variables and histopathological features were assessed.

RESULTS

Mean age was 54.36 years, similar for both genders. Concerning pathological study, mean tumour size was 31.7 mm. Rosettes were presented in 17% of the cases and tumoural necrosis in 23.3%. The cell proliferation factor Ki-67 index was 10.7%. The 2- and 5-year overall survival rates were 95.8% and 88.9%, respectively. In the univariate study, statistically significant differences in survival were found for each of the categories of T, N and M factors. Mitotic index and quantification of expression of Ki-67 showed influence in overall survival, although without statistical significance. In the multivariate analysis, factors N, M and mitotic index behaved as independent prognostic factors related to survival. Median disease-free interval in the series was 163.35 months. In cases with loco-regional recurrence, 53% had positive hiliar or mediastinal nodal involvement at the time of the surgery. In the univariate analysis, we observed statistically significant differences in disease-free interval in patients with nodal involvement (P = 0.024) and non-anatomical resections (P = 0.04). Histological characteristics showed no statistically significant differences in disease-free interval.

CONCLUSIONS

Lymph node involvement, the development of distant metastasis and mitotic index, more than Ki-67 determination, were shown as independent prognostic factors related to survival of these patients.

Superior mediastinal typical carcinoid detected by 99mTc-MIBI SPECT/CT imaging: A case report

RATIONALE

This is a rare case of mediastinal typical carcinoid tumor with elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) and hypercalcemia detected by Tc -methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile(Tc-MIBI) single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) imaging.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 65-year-old male patient presented with hypercalcemia and elevated PTH.

DIAGNOSES

The preoperative diagnosis was ectopic parathyroid adenoma in the right superior mediastinum.

INTERVENTIONS

We performed endoscopic removal of the mass in the superior mediastinum.

OUTCOMES

Histopathology and immunohistochemistry revealed typical carcinoid.

LESSONS

The differential diagnosis of mediastinal tumors with elevated PTH detected by Tc-MIBI dual-phase imaging should include ectopic parathyroid adenoma as well as carcinoid.

The role of surgery in high grade neuroendocrine tumours of the lung

High grade lung neuroendocrine tumours are a heterogeneous subtype of pulmonary cancers including small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC). LCNEC represents approximately 2-3% of lung cancers, whereas SCLC represents 15-20% of lung cancers. Patients with SCLC and LCNEC have a poor prognosis compared with patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). LCNEC is treated with primary surgical resection in stages I-II, which is similar to other NSCLCs. Neo-adjuvant treatment in stage III is similar to NSCLC but has not been well studied. LCNEC tumours have an unfavourable prognosis in higher stages but a more favourable prognosis in earlier stages. Surgery plays a minor role in treatment of SCLC because tumours are often locally advanced or have metastasized at the time of presentation and treatment relies on chemo- or chemoradiotherapy. However, patients with limited cancer may demonstrate better disease control upon surgical treatment. The resection rate of limited disease (LD) SCLC is low (1-6%), but 5-year survival rates of 31-42% after surgical resection are encouraging and are significantly higher than the survival rates of comparable patients that did not have surgery. Curing SCLC in stage I is reported in up to 66% of cases. Local treatment with either resection or radiotherapy alone is followed by high rates of locoregional and distant recurrences, so preoperative or adjuvant treatment is recommended. Here, we summarise the similarities and differences of SCLC and LCNEC and highlight the role of surgery in the treatment of SCLC and LCNEC and its effect on local recurrence prevention.

Outcomes after surgical resection of pulmonary carcinoid tumors

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary carcinoid tumors make up approximately one percent of all pulmonary tumors, and controversy exists regarding management and prognosis. We undertook a retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent surgical resection of pulmonary carcinoid tumors at our institution.

METHODS

From 1992 through 2014, 121 patients who underwent surgical resection of pulmonary carcinoid tumors were retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographics, pathologic data and long-term outcomes were recorded.

RESULTS

There were 96 patients with typical carcinoid tumors and 25 patients with atypical carcinoid tumors. All patients received complete resection of their tumors, with 90 % (109/121) of patients undergoing anatomic resection. There were no peri-operative mortalities. Eighty-one percent (98/121) of patients were female. Mean age was 60.7 years. Five and ten year survival rates were 96 % and 88 % respectively for typical carcinoid tumors, as compared to 87 % and 69 % respectively for atypical carcinoid tumors. Tumor size was not associated with survival (p = 0.98). Nodal metastases were evident in 8 % (8/96) of typical carcinoid tumors and 28 % (7/25) percent of atypical carcinoid tumors. Among typical carcinoid cases, the presence of nodal metastases were not associated with overall survival (p = 0.55). Among atypical carcinoid cases, the presence of nodal metastases also was not associated with survival (p = 0.53). No patients received neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemoradiation treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Excellent long-term outcomes can be achieved following surgical resection of pulmonary carcinoid tumors. The presence of nodal metastases was not associated with overall survival. Tumor size was not associated with either recurrence rates or survival.

Imaging of the central airways with bronchoscopic correlation: pictorial essay

A wide variety of pathologic processes, both benign and malignant, affect the central airways. These processes may be classified into 4 distinct groups: anatomic variants, lesions that result in focal or diffuse airway narrowing, and those that result in multinodular airway disorder. Key to the accurate assessment of the central airways is meticulous imaging technique, especially the routine acquisition of contiguous high-resolution, 1-mm to 1.5-mm images. These images enable high-definition axial, coronal, and sagittal reconstructions, as well as advanced imaging techniques, including minimum intensity projection images and virtual bronchoscopy. Current indications most commonly include patients presenting with signs and symptoms of possible central airway obstruction, with or without hemoptysis. In addition to diagnosing airway abnormalities, computed tomography (CT) also serves a critical complementary role to current bronchoscopic techniques for both diagnosing and treating airway lesions. Advantages of CT include noninvasive visualization of the extraluminal extent of lesions, as well as visualization of airways distal to central airways obstructions. As discussed and illustrated later, thorough knowledge of current bronchoscopic approaches to central airway disease is essential for optimal correlative CT interpretation.