title: Bronchial carcinoid tumors: assessment with CT of location and intratumoral calcification in 31 patients.
abstract: Bronchial carcinoid tumors (BCT) have long been regarded as predominantly central and rarely calcified. The authors retrospectively reviewed computed tomographic (CT) findings in 31 patients (thin-section CT studies in 18) who were seen at their institution with the histopathologic diagnosis of BCT (27 typical, four atypical) during the years 1978-1989. Eighteen BCT (58%) were central and 13 (42%) peripheral, with peripheral defined as located more than 2 cm distal to the origin of the appropriate segmental bronchus. CT scans revealed varied patterns of calcification in seven (39%) of the 18 central BCT and in one (8%) of the 13 peripheral BCT (P less than .1); overall, CT scans revealed calcification in eight (26%) of the BCT. The eight calcified tumors were each of the typical histopathologic type. Peripheral BCT (42%) were nearly as common as central BCT (58%), and CT detection of calcification in BCT was not uncommon (39% of central lesions; 26%, overall).
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY 10032.
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Zwiebel
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Grimes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed