Pulmonary tumourlets and microcarcinoids in bronchiectasis
Canessa, P.A.; Santini, D.; Zanelli, M.; Capecchi, V.
Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease 52(2): 138-139
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 1122-0643 PMID: 9203810 Document Number: 475138
A 66 year old woman underwent a left lower lobectomy for bronchiectasis. Histology revealed the presence of multiple endocrine lesions, such as neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia, tumourlets and microcarcinoids, which were widespread in bronchi, bronchioles and alveolar tissue. This case confirms the occurrence of neuroendocrine proliferations, in the setting of bronchiectasis, ranging from neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia to carcinoids, and suggests tumourlets as an appropriate model for neuroendocrine lung tumour genesis.