Bronchial carcinoid tumors. Retrospective analysis of 32 cases

: Thirty-two cases of bronchial carcinoids (rate m/f = 1, average age 50.33 years) had been treated from 1970 to 1993. 62.5% of patients were symptomatic, 6% with specific symptoms. 62.5% of tumors had a central growth. Thirty-one patients underwent surgical treatment, another one a laser Nd:YAG coagulation. The operative mortality and morbidity were respectively 3% and 0%. 84.4% of tumours were typical carcinoid, 11% of those had lymphonodal metastases. Atypical carcinoids were found in 15.6% of patients, 40% had lymphnodal metastases. The global actuarial survival to 1, 5, 10 years were respectively 96, 88 and 84%. Statistically the survival difference between the typical and atypical carcinoid is relevant. The authors underline the preoperative cytologic diagnosis to perform a minimal lung resection in typical bronchial carcinoids.