대한흉부영상의학회 Weekly Chest Cases

Courtesy of Jin Mo Goo, M.D., Jung-Gi Im, M.D. / Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
Age/Sex 60 / F
Chief ComplaintIncidentally found chest radiographic abnormality

Diagnosis: Typical Carcinoid Tumor
Radiologic Findings: Posteroanterior chest radiograph shows right upper lobe atelectasis and the focal convexity caused by a central tumor. Contrast-enhanced CT scans show a mass obstructing the right upper lobar bronchus. The mass is predominantly extraluminal with a small intraluminal polypoid protrusion. The mass shows marked contrast enhancement, and has multiple punctate calcifications. Bronchoscopy also reveals a hypervascular mass obstructing the right upper lobar bronchus.
Brief Review: Centrally located bronchial carcinoids may be predominantly intraluminal, assuming a polypoid configuration, may grow along the lumen of the bronchus, or may predominantly extraluminal, in which case they are known as “iceberg” lesions. Calcification is fairly common. The incidence of calcification is significantly greater in centrally located tumors and more frequent in the larger tumors. Sometimes the calcification takes the form of recognizable ossification and is so extensive that it occupies the whole of the tumor mass. Because bronchial carcinoid tumors are very vascular, marked enhancement may be seen following intravenous administration of contrast medium.
References: Amstrong P. Neoplasms of the lungs, airways and pleura. In: Amstrong P, Wilson AG, Dee P, Hansell DM eds. Imaging of diseases of the chest. 3rd ed. Mosby 2000:339-343.
Keywords: Lung, Airway, Malignant tumor,

대한흉부영상의학회 Korean Society of Thoracic Radiology