Tumours of the lung and the carcinoid syndrome.

The majority of bronchial adenomas show a histological structure usually described as carcinoid in type. Until recently the term " carcinoid " used in this way was meant to be descriptive only, on the understanding that this tumour bore no relationship to the better-known carcinoids of the alimentary tract. This sharp distinction has been challenged histologically by Feyrter (1959a) and on functional grounds by Stanford, Davis, Gunter, and Hobart (1958) and by other workers who have described cases with metastasizing bronchial adenomas and the clinical and biochemical features of the carcinoid syndrome. The characteristics of the carcinoid syndrome in association with malignant argentaffinomas of the small bowel have been well described by Thorson, Biorck, Bjorkman, and Waldenstrom (1954) and many other writers. A case of bronchial adenoma previously published by Kincaid-Smith and Brossy (1956) has since shown features similar to those of the American workers. The new data on this case are presented here, together with some observations that cast light on the possible relationship between the carcinoid type of bronchial adenomas and carcinoids of the bowel. In addition, a case of oat-cell carcinoma of the bronchus with an associated " carcinoid " syndrome is reported. The small group of bronchial and tracheal tumours of the adenoid cystic type ("cylindromas") are quite distinct from the carcinoid type, and are not discussed further. The clinicopathological differences between the two types have been summarized by Feyrter (1959a and b).