Case of the Week #266

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14 February 2013 - Case of the Week #266

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Case of the Week #266

Clinical History:

A 30 year old woman presented with hemoptysis and fever for 1 week. High resolution CT showed a well defined, rounded, high attenuation endobronchial lesion arising from the posterosuperior wall of the left main bronchus. A biopsy was performed.

Radiologic images:

Micro images:

What is your diagnosis?

Diagnosis:

Endobronchial carcinoid

Discussion:

Immunostains were also performed:

Left to right: AE1-AE3, chromogranin, synaptophysin, NSE

The World Health Organization classification recognizes four histologic subtypes of pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinomas: typical carcinoid, atypical carcinoid, small cell carcinoma and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (Travis: Pathology and Genetics of Tumours of the Lung, Pleura, Thymus and Heart (3rd Ed, Vol 10, 2004), Clin Chest Med 2011;32:669). Carcinoid tumors, also called well-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma, represent 1-2% of invasive lung tumors. They rarely are associated with the carcinoid syndrome of flushing, diarrhea and cyanosis.

Pulmonary bronchial tumors either arise centrally (major bronchi) or peripherally (subpleural parenchyma) as well defined, smooth lesions without necrosis. They consist of nests or trabeculae of medium sized polygonal cells with lightly eosinophilic cytoplasm, low nuclear grade and round to oval finely granular nuclei (PathologyOutlines.com-Lung Tumor chapter). The vascular stroma is typically scant, but may contain amyloid or bone. Various patterns include spindle cell, palisading, papillary, glandular and follicular. Carcinoid tumors have no / minimal mitotic activity (< 2/10HPF) and no necrosis.

The differential diagnosis includes other neuroendocrine lung tumors, including tumorlet (less than 5 mm), metastatic carcinoid from the GI tract or elsewhere, atypical carcinoid (2-10 mitotic figures/HPF, necrosis, often atypia or pleomorphism), large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (atypia, pleomorphism, mitotic figures, necrosis). Tumors with a pseudoglandular pattern may resemble adenocarcinoma (marked atypia throughout).

Bronchial carcinoid tumors are locally invasive, but only rarely metastasize. The 10 year overall survival is 72% (Am Surg 2011;77:1669). In children, they may metastasize regardless of the histology (Arch Pathol Lab Med 2003;127:1200).

Nat Pernick, M.D., President
and Palak Thakore, Associate Medical Editor
PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
30100 Telegraph Road, Suite 408
Bingham Farms, Michigan (USA) 48025
Telephone: 248/646-0325
Email: NatPernick@Hotmail.com
Alternate email: NatPernick@gmail.com