Bronchoscopic diagnosis and treatment of endobronchial carcinoid: case report and review of the literature

Carcinoid tumours are rare neuroendocrine neoplasms that mostly occur in younger adults with low tendencies to metastasise. Based on their histological characteristics, they are divided into typical and atypical subtypes. The most common presenting symptoms are due to central airway obstruction. The first step in the diagnostic assessment should be a computed tomography (CT) scan, as it provides information both for local tumour extent and lymph node involvement. Bronchoscopy is the main tool for histological confirmation, evaluation of bronchial wall invasion and removal of endobronchial manifestation with subsequent resolution of atelectasis. Endobronchial ultrasound may be necessary to rule out lymph node metastasis. Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy in combination with CT can rule out further metastatic disease. Surgical resection using parenchyma-sparing techniques remains the gold standard for treatment. For selected patients, endobronchial therapy could be an alternative for minimal invasiveness. Long-term follow-up is suggested due to the high likelihood of recurrence. Here, we describe our clinical experience in a 35-year-old male patient who originally presented with haemoptysis and a central polypoid tumour in the left main bronchus revealed by a CT scan. The histological characteristics were indicative of a typical carcinoid. The patient was treated using an endobronchial approach only. No complications and no recurrences have been observed in a follow-up of 2 years.