Medical Image of the Week: Carcinoid at the Carina

No abstract available. Article truncated at 150 words. A 74-year-old woman with history of 30 pack-year smoking, allergic rhinitis and asthma presented to pulmonary clinic with cough and dyspnea on exertion. She was placed on inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-agonist. Pulmonary function test showed moderate obstructive ventilator defect and flow volume loop suggested variable intra-thoracic obstruction (Figure 1). In the meantime, she was hospitalized with complaint of dyspnea and possible COPD exacerbation. Het CT chest revealed an endobronchial 12 mm pedunculated lesion at anterior aspect of main carina (Figure 2). She underwent flexible bronchoscopy and lesion was removed using electro-surgical snare and cryoprobe (Figure 3). Her symptoms improved post-procedure. Pathologic examination of lesion revealed a carcinoid tumor. Endobronchial tumors are masses confined within the bronchus, and may be associated with atelectasis or pneumonia of the distal parenchyma. These tracheobronchial tumors are classified as malignant or benign. Malignant tumors arising from surface epithelium include squamous cell carcinoma and neuro-endocrine ...