Pulmonary carcinoid associated with melanoma: two cases and a review of the literature

To our knowledge, this is the first report in the British literature documenting the co-occurrence of melanoma and pulmonary carcinoid. The only other report is from America and documents pulmonary carcinoid in association with a parathyroid hormone-producing melanoma. We report two patients with melanoma who presented with nodules on chest X-ray. Both underwent resection of assumed lung metastasis which unexpectedly revealed primary pulmonary carcinoid. Evidence of an association between these two tumours which show striking biological and pathological similarities is discussed. The incidence of pulmonary carcinoid is increasing and with the improved power of radiological assessment we may see additional accounts of such an association in the near future.