A Case of Endobronchial Carcinoid Tumor Treated by Flexible Bronchoscopic Resection

Bronchial carcinoid tumor accounts for less than 5% of all primary lung tumors in adults. Although surgical resection is the treatment of choice, here we report a case of bronchial carcinoid tumor treated with flexible bronchoscopic resection. A 19-year-old-man presented with a history of wheezing with dyspnea for six months. A simple chest x-ray showed no abnormal findings, but a pulmonary function test showed a moderate obstructive lung disease pattern without a bronchodilator response. A computed tomogram of the thorax revealed an enhanced 15x12 mm nodule in the left main bronchus. Bronchoscopic examination showed a polypoid mass with a stalk in the left main bronchus, which almost completely occluded the left main bronchus. Histopathology of the resected specimen revealed a bronchial carcinoid tumor. We treated the carcinoid tumor with a flexible bronchoscopic resection. During the follow up period of 6 months, the previous tumor didn't relapse. Initial bronchoscopic resection should be considered when bronchial carcinoid tumor can be approached by bronchoscopy.