The diagnosis and treatment of bronchial carcinoids]

The results of diagnosis and treatment of bronchial carcinoids in 37 patients are discussed. Establishment of the diagnosis is difficult because the clinico-radiological pictures of these tumours are similar to those of unspecific diseases of the lungs as well as tuberculosis. Twenty-six patients received antituberculotic treatment for a long period of time (2 to 5.5 years). Bronchoscopy with biopsy revealed the true cause of the disease in all of the 37 patients, in 9 of them coexistence of bronchial carcinoid and tuberculosis of the lung was found. Eight operations for pulmonectomy, 4 for bilobectomy, and 25 for lobectomy were performed. The volume of the surgical intervention was determined by the location of the bronchial carcinoids and extent of the secondary changes in the pulmonary tissue. Retrospective analysis showed that in timely diagnosis of bronchial carcinoids treatment of some of the patients could be limited to reconstructive-plastic operations with preservation of the whole lung or part of it.