Initial Bronchoscopic Therapy for Typical Bronchial Carcinoid: Case Report

Malignancy of carcinoid tumors of the lung are potentially low and therefore less invasive treatments may be considered. Bronchoscopic treatment is an alternative to immediate surgical resection in patients with intraluminal bronchial typical carcinoids. Initial bronchoscopic treatment is given to improve presurgical condition, and to enable less extensive parenchymal resection. Implementation of initial bronchoscopic treatment has no negative impact on surgical treatment outcome. We here in report a case of intraluminal bronchial typical carcinoid removed by argon plasma coagulation by initial bronchoscopic approach. The case was a 48-year-old man, suffering from productive cough and sputum for three months. Bronchoscopic examination revealed endobronchial vascularized tumors. Based on histopathological findings, we diagnosed typical carcinoids. The patient underwent argon plasma coagulation treatment by bronchoscopic approach several times. After a series of treatments, his symptoms improved but recurrence was found at the 4th month of follow-up. Then the patient was treated successfully by means of parenchyma- saving procedure.