Diffuse idiopathic neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia causing severe airway obstruction in a patient with a carcinoid tumor.
We report a 57-year-old female with severe airway obstruction who underwent resection of a tumor of unknown dignity during lung volume reduction surgery. The nodule consisted of a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor (carcinoid), and severe chronic obstructive lung disease was due to diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia, a very rare cause of obliterative bronchiolitis. Radionuclide ablative therapy of the neuroendocrine tissue was considered but not found to be feasible due to a low lung/background ratio of the radiotracer.
Adams
Heiner
H
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Zurich University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
Brack
Thomas
T
Kestenholz
Peter
P
Vogt
Peter
P
Steinert
Hans C
HC
Russi
Erich W
EW
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000209:etiology*; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000209:etiology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000473:pathology*; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000473:pathology