Bronchial Carcinoid as a Cause of Hemoptysis

Introduction Carcinoid was first characterized by Lubarsh in 1888. However, Ranson is given credit for the first description of a carcinoid of the ileum in 1890. The term ‘karzinoide’ was used first by Oberndorfer in 1907 to describe tumors that behaved in a more indolent fashion than typical adenocarcinomas. In 1928, Masson stated that carcinoids should be considered as endocrine tumors since the malignant chromaffin or Kulchitsky cells in this disease exhibit amine uptake and decarboxylation characteristics. In 1930, Kramer grouped carcinoid tumors with cylindromas as bronchial adenomas because of their good prognosis compared with bronchogenic carcinoma. In 1972, Arrigoni and associates designated a subset of carcinoid adenomas that were more aggressive as "atypical". Bronchial carcinoid is a rare cause of pulmonary neoplasms accounting for about 1-2% of all pulmonary malignancies and unique in the fact that it has neuroendocrine differentiation on histology. The incidence of carcinoid tumors varies with gender, age, and race. The overall incidence in the United States is estimated to be two cases per 100,000 people. Carcinoid tumors often are diagnosed in a person’s fifth or sixth decade of life. Except in appendiceal and bronchopulmonary sites, African Americans have a higher incidence than other ethnic groups. It is slightly more common in females (55% of all cases) than males. Seventy-four percent of carcinoid tumors originated in the gastrointestinal tract; the second most frequent site was in the tracheobronchopulmonary tree with 25%. Bronchial carcinoids have a relatively indolent course and good prognosis if treated, although they do have malignant potential, therefore, it is important to recognize and treat them as soon as possible.