title: Endobronchial Treatment of Carcinoid Tumors of the Lung.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bronchial carcinoid tumors are known as low-grade malignancies. Surgery has been proposed as the best treatment of choice for lung carcinoids. However, less invasive treatment approaches may be considered due to low-grade malignancy potential of such tumors. The aim of this study was to review the results of endobronchial treatments of carcinoid tumors of the lung and to compare with the outcome after surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Initial complete tumor eradication with an endobronchial treatment was attempted for 29 patients. Diode laser or argon plasma coagulation was used during these treatments. Cryotherapy or laser treatments were applied consecutively in patients for whom there was good bronchoscopic visualization of the distal and basal tumor margins and no evidence of bronchial wall involvement. Surgery was performed in cases of atypical carcinoid and in cases of nonvisualization of the basal and distal part of the tumor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 29 patients have been included (median age 58 years; range, 23-77 years). Median follow-up has been 49 months (range, 22-94 months). A total of 24 patients (69%) had typical carcinoid tumor, 5 patients (31%) had atypical carcinoid tumor. Initial endobronchial treatment provided complete tumor eradication in 21 of 29 patients (72%). Of the eight other patients (28%), two were atypical carcinoids, and underwent surgical treatment. There was no tumor-related death and no recurrence during the follow-up in both groups. There was no difference for survival or recurrence between the surgical and the endobronchial treatment group of patients (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endobronchial treatment may be considered as safe, effective treatment for typical carcinoid tumors in the central airways. Addition of initial endobronchial treatment had no negative effect on the surgical outcome.
authors.affiliation: Bilim University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dalar
authors.affiliation: Yedikule Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Teaching Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.affiliation: KTU Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yasin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abul
authors.affiliation: Yedikule Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Teaching Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sinem Nedime
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Sokucu
authors.affiliation: Yedikule Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Teaching Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Karasulu
authors.affiliation: Yedikule Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Teaching Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Halide Nur
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Urer
authors.affiliation: Yedikule Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Teaching Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sedat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Altin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D057908:Argon Plasma Coagulation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D001706:Biopsy; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000401:mortality; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult