Carcinoid tumors of the lung

Carcinoid tumors of the lung are a subgroup of neuroendocrine tumors of the lung, of lower grade than small cell carcinoma of the lung and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung. 

For a general discussion, please refer to the article on carcinoid tumors.

Pathology

Classification

Carcinoid tumors can be divided into two groups dependent on location:

• bronchial carcinoid tumors: central lesions (most common ~75% ⁹)

• peripheral pulmonary carcinoid tumors: peripheral lesions (less common reported range 16-40% ⁹)

Carcinoid tumors also can be divided into two histological groups (requires resected specimen rather than biopsy ⁶) as follows:

• typical carcinoid tumors of the lung

  • considered much more common (~90%) ^5,9

  • low grade/well-differentiated ⁴

• atypical carcinoid tumors of the lung

  • less well-differentiated

  • more aggressive ^3,4

Radiographic features

Please refer to location-dependent subtypes above.