Peripheral pulmonary carcinoid tumour
Peripheral pulmonary carcinoid tumour refer to a subtype of pulmonary carcinoid tumours that arise within the periphery of the lung. They are considered less common than the more centrally-located bronchial carcinoid tumours.
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Clinical presentation
Many patients tend to be asymptomatic 2. Presentation with carcinoid syndrome is extremely rare 6.
Pathology
Peripheral pulmonary carcinoid tumours are considered a neuroendocrine tumour of the lung. They can be typical (well-differentiated - common) or atypical (more aggressive - uncommon).
Risk factors
- smoking: rate of carcinoid tumours is similar between smokers and non-smokers, although there is increased incidence of atypical subtype amongst smokers 5,6
Radiographic features
HRCT/CT chest
Most are discovered as an incidental rounded solitary pulmonary nodule. The size at diagnosis can vary but is usually reported to be in the range of 10-30 mm 2. Many have a lobulated margin with an average Hounsfield value on postcontrast imaging of ~50 2. Imaging features are often non-specific and tissue diagnosis is essential in determining diagnosis.
Most peripheral carcinoid tumours tend to involve a subsegmental bronchus 2.
Nuclear medicine
FDG-PET
May have a sensitivity of around 75% 7.
Galliun68-Octeotide-PET / 68Ga-DOTATATE
Usually avid and useful for diagnosis 8.
See also
Related articles
Lung cancer
-
lung cancer: overview
- non-small cell lung cancer
- pulmonary neuroendocrine tumours
- preinvasive lesions
- benign neoplasms
- pulmonary metastases
- lung cancer screening
- lung cancer staging