Clinico-radiological characteristics of bronchial carcinoid

Objectives: To review clinical and radiological characteristics of a patients with bronchial carcinoid. Methods: In this retrospective study, we reviewed the clinical, pathological and imaging findings in 42 patients diagnosed with bronchial carcinoid during the seven years period. Results: There were 23 women and 19 men, with a mean age of 47 years (range from 15 to 75). Thirty patients had typical and 12 atypical bronchial carcinoid. Dominant symtoms were cough (46,7%) and 38%. Tumor was localized in 28 patients in the left, and 14 in the right lung. On radiographs carcinoid manifested as tumor shadow in 40.5%, nodule and atelectasis in 21.4% cases each respectively, pleural effusion and pneumonia in 7.1% each respectively and hyperinflation in 2.4% of the cases. Computerized tomography revealed endoluminal tumor in 30.9% patients. Conclusion: Major imaging findings are central, tumor mass or nodule and obstruction signs like atelectasis. Diagnosis is confirmed by pathological examination of samples taken by bronchoscopy or surgery.