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Bronchial carcinoid tumors: second primary neoplasms and outcomes of surgical treatment

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To analyze determinants of prognosis in patients with bronchial carcinoid tumors treated surgically and the potential concomitance of such tumors with second primary neoplasms.

Methods:

This was a retrospective analysis of 51 bronchial carcinoid tumors treated surgically between 2007 and 2016. Disease-free survival (DFS) was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and determinants of prognosis were evaluated. Primary neoplasms that were concomitant with the bronchial carcinoid tumors were identified by reviewing patient charts.

Results:

The median age was 51.2 years, 58.8% of the patients were female, and 52.9% were asymptomatic. The most common histology was typical carcinoid (in 80.4%). Five-year DFS was 89.8%. Ki-67 expression was determined in 27 patients, and five-year DFS was better among the patients in whom Ki-67 expression was ≤ 5% than among those in whom it was > 5% (100% vs. 47.6%; p = 0.01). Concomitant primary neoplasms were observed in 14 (27.4%) of the 51 cases. Among the concomitant primary neoplasms that were malignant, the most common was lung adenocarcinoma, which was observed in 3 cases. Concomitant primary neoplasms were more common in patients who were asymptomatic and in those with small tumors.

Conclusions:

Surgical resection is the mainstay treatment of bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumors and confers a good prognosis. Bronchial carcinoid tumors are likely to be accompanied by second primary neoplasms.

Keywords:
Carcinoid tumor/diagnosis; Carcinoid tumor/surgery; Neoplasms, second primary; Lung neoplasms

RESUMO

Objetivo:

Analisar os determinantes do prognóstico em pacientes com tumores carcinoides brônquicos tratados cirurgicamente e possível segunda neoplasia primária concomitante.

Métodos:

Trata-se de uma análise retrospectiva de 51 tumores carcinoides brônquicos tratados cirurgicamente entre 2007 e 2016. A sobrevida livre de doença (SLD) foi calculada pelo método de Kaplan-Meier, e os determinantes do prognóstico foram avaliados. As neoplasias primárias concomitantes aos tumores carcinoides brônquicos foram identificadas por meio da análise dos prontuários dos pacientes.

Resultados:

A mediana de idade foi de 51,2 anos, 58,8% dos pacientes eram do sexo feminino e 52,9% eram assintomáticos. A classificação histológica mais comum foi carcinoide típico (em 80,4%). A SLD em cinco anos foi de 89,8%. A expressão de Ki-67 foi determinada em 27 pacientes, e a SLD em cinco anos foi melhor nos pacientes nos quais a expressão de Ki-67 foi ≤ 5% do que naqueles nos quais a expressão de Ki-67 foi > 5% (100% vs. 47,6%; p = 0,01). Neoplasias primárias concomitantes foram observadas em 14 (27,4%) dos 51 casos. Entre as neoplasias primárias malignas concomitantes, a mais comum foi o adenocarcinoma pulmonar, observado em 3 casos. Neoplasias primárias concomitantes foram mais comuns em pacientes assintomáticos e naqueles com tumores pequenos.

Conclusões:

A resseção cirúrgica é o principal tratamento de tumores carcinoides broncopulmonares e propicia um bom prognóstico. É provável que tumores carcinoides brônquicos se relacionem com segunda neoplasia primária.

Descritores:
Tumor carcinoide/diagnóstico; Tumor carcinoide/cirurgia; Segunda neoplasia primária; Neoplasias pulmonares

INTRODUCTION

Carcinoid tumors are rare malignant neoplasms originating from neuroendocrine cells. The bronchopulmonary system is the second most common site, harboring 20-25% of carcinoid tumors. Bronchial carcinoid tumors account for 1-5% of all cases of lung cancer.11 Modlim IM, Lye KD, Kidd M. A 5-decade analysis of 13,715 carcinoid tumors. Cancer. 2003;97(4):934-59. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.11105
https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.11105...

2 Fink G, Krelbaum T, Yellin A, Bendayan D, Saute M, Glazer KM. Pulmonary carcinoid: presentation, diagnosis, and outcome in 142 cases in Israel and review of 640 cases from the literature. Chest. 2001;119(6):1647-51. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.119.6.1647
https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.119.6.1647...
-33 Newton JN, Swerdlow AJ, dos Santos Silva IM, Vessey MP, Grahame-Smith DG, Primatesta P, et al. The epidemiology of carcinoid tumours in England and Scotland. Br J Cancer. 1994;70(5):939-42. https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1994.424
https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1994.424...
Slow growth and a low metastasis rate characterize carcinoid tumors. Histologically, pulmonary carcinoid tumors are classified as typical or atypical according to some characteristics, such as number of mitoses and presence of necrosis.44 Travis WD, Brambilla E, Burke AP, Marx A, editors. World Health Organization Classification of Tumours. Pathology and Genetics--Tumours of the Lung, Pleura, Thymus and Heart. Lyon: IARC Press; 2015.) It has been suggested that the classification be changed to well- to moderately differentiated neuroendocrine tumors; however, the World Health Organization classification of tumors maintains the terms typical and atypical carcinoid for bronchial tumors.44 Travis WD, Brambilla E, Burke AP, Marx A, editors. World Health Organization Classification of Tumours. Pathology and Genetics--Tumours of the Lung, Pleura, Thymus and Heart. Lyon: IARC Press; 2015.

Principles of staging and surgical treatment of carcinoid tumors are the same as for other types of lung cancer. However, since carcinoid tumors have a less aggressive behavior, various aspects of clinical and surgical management remain controversial. The most common prognostic determinants are histological classification, tumor size, and Ki-67 expression. However, because most case series are small, there is no consensus regarding determinants of clinical outcomes.55 Filosso PL, Oliaro A, Ruffini E, Bora G, Lyberis P, Asioli S, et al. Outcome and prognostic factors in bronchial carcinoids: a single-center experience. J Thorac Oncol. 2013;8(10):1282-8. https://doi.org/10.1097/JTO.0b013e31829f097a
https://doi.org/10.1097/JTO.0b013e31829f...
,66 Yang Z, Wang Z, Duan Y, Xu S. Clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of resected cases of carcinoid tumors of the lung. Thoracic Cancer. 2016;7(6):633-638. https://doi.org/10.1111/1759-7714.12377
https://doi.org/10.1111/1759-7714.12377...
Another controversial aspect related to carcinoid tumors is their association with second primary neoplasms. Carcinoid tumors from different primary sites have been associated with second primary neoplasms in approximately 20% of cases.11 Modlim IM, Lye KD, Kidd M. A 5-decade analysis of 13,715 carcinoid tumors. Cancer. 2003;97(4):934-59. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.11105
https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.11105...
,77 Modlin IM, Sandor A. An analysis of 8305 cases of carcinoid tumors. Cancer. 1997;79(4): 813-29. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0142(19970215)79:4<813::AID-CNCR19>3.0.CO;2-2
https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0142(...

8 Berge T, Linell F. Carcinoid tumours. Frequency in a defined population during a 12-year period. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand A. 1976;84(4):322-30. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1699-0463.1976.tb00122.x
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1699-0463.1976...
-99 Li AF, Hsu CY, Li A, Tai LC, Liang WY, Tsai SH, et al. A 35-year retrospective study of carcinoid tumors in Taiwan: differences in distribution with a high probability of associated second primary malignancies. Cancer. 2008;112(2):274-83. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.23159
https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.23159...

The objective of the present study was to analyze determinants of prognosis in patients with bronchial carcinoid tumors treated surgically and the potential concomitance of such tumors with second primary neoplasms.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of data collected from medical charts of patients with a histological diagnosis of bronchial carcinoid tumor submitted to surgical resection at the A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, located in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, between 2007 and 2016. During the study period, pulmonary resections were performed in 1,623 patients, and carcinoid tumor resections were identified in 60. Of those, 3 were excluded because they had not been submitted to complete surgical resection and 6 were excluded because of missing data. Therefore, 51 patients (3.1%) were submitted to complete surgical resection due to bronchial carcinoid tumor and were included in the present study.

Chest CT and bronchoscopy were performed in all patients. Tumors were classified as central, when they were directly visualized during bronchoscopy, or peripheral, when they were not. Staging workup was based on chest CT, bronchoscopy, positron emission tomography-CT, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and scintigraphy with radiolabeled octreotide, at the discretion of the attending physician.

Pathologists reviewed all paraffin blocks in order to define the histological diagnosis and classify them as typical or atypical carcinoid tumors in accordance with the criteria established by the World Health Organization.1010 Travis WD, Brambilla E, Muller-Hermelink HK, Harris CC, editors. World Health Organization Classification of Tumours. Pathology & genetics--tumors of the lung, pleura, thymus and heart. Lyon: IARC Press; 2014.,1111 Travis WD, Rush W, Flieder DB, Falk R, Fleming MV, Gal AA, et al. Survival analysis of 200 pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors with clarification of criteria for atypical carcinoid and its separation from typical carcinoid. Am J Surg Pathol. 1998;22(8):934-44. Final histological diagnosis and classification were established after analysis of the surgical specimens.

The compiled data included age, gender, smoking history, symptoms, diagnostic method, tumor location, clinical stage, type of surgical resection, tumor size, number of resected mediastinal lymph nodes, histological classification, Ki-67 status, presence of second primary neoplasms, and status in the last follow-up evaluation. Tumor staging was in accordance with the 7th edition of the TNM classification of malignant tumors.1212 Sobin LH, Gospodarowicz MK, Wittekind C, editors. 7th ed. TNM classification of malignant tumours. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell; 2010.

Primary neoplasms that were concomitant with bronchial carcinoid tumors were identified by reviewing patient charts. Depending on when they were diagnosed, concomitant neoplasms were classified as previous to, synchronous with, or subsequent to bronchial carcinoid tumors. Synchronous diagnosis was defined as diagnosis of a second primary tumor within 3 months of the diagnosis of bronchial carcinoid tumor.

All statistical analyses were performed with the IBM SPSS Statistics software package, version 20.0 (IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY, USA). Continuous variables were expressed as median (minimum-maximum) in order to describe patient characteristics. Differences between categorical variables were assessed by the chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test, as appropriate. Survival rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and groups were compared by the log-rank test. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant for all tests.

The study was approved by the local research ethics committee (Protocol no. 1.607.727).

RESULTS

During the study period, 51 patients were identified and included in the analysis. Ages ranged from 16.6 years to 86.1 years (median, 51.2 years). Most of the patients were asymptomatic (52.9%). Among those presenting with clinical manifestations (n = 24), the most common symptoms were pneumonia, in 16; wheezing, in 7; hemoptysis, in 6; dyspnea, in 3; and cough, in 1. Tumor size ranged from 0.4 cm to 7.5 cm (median, 2.5 cm). Other clinicopathological characteristics are shown in Table 1.

Table 1
Clinicopathological characteristics of the study patients (N = 51).

All patients were submitted to complete surgical resection. Lobectomy was performed in 43 cases (84.3%); wedge resection, in 4 (7.8%); and pneumonectomy, in 4 (7.8%). In 9 patients (17.6%), a bronchoplastic procedure or a sleeve resection was associated with lobectomy, and pulmonary arterioplasty was performed in 1. The median number of removed lymph nodes was 6 (range, 0-31), lymph node metastasis being found in 3 patients (5.8%). Postoperative length of hospital stay ranged from 3 days to 20 days (median, 6 days). Postoperative complications were identified in 11 patients (21.6%): prolonged air leak, in 3; pleural effusion, in 2; hemothorax, in 1; chylothorax, in 1; pleural empyema, in 1; chronic pain, in 1; wound infection, in 1; and acute abdomen caused by obstruction, in 1. No postoperative mortality occurred.

The follow-up period ranged from 0.3 months to 115.4 months (median, 37.6 months). Systemic recurrence was observed in 3 patients (lung, bone, adrenal gland, and pleura). No local recurrence was observed, and there were no cancer-related deaths.

Five-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 89.8% (Figure 1). Determinants of 5-year DFS are shown in Table 2. Only a high level of Ki-67 expression was related to worse DFS (Figure 2). Patients with Ki-67 expression ≤ 5% showed higher DFS than those with Ki-67 expression > 5%. However, Ki-67 expression was determined in only 27 patients. Although DFS was higher in patients with typical carcinoid tumors than in those with atypical carcinoid tumors (92% vs. 82%), the difference was not significant (p = 0.55).

Figure 1
Disease-free survival of patients with bronchial carcinoid tumors submitted to complete surgical resection.

Table 2
Univariate analysis of determinants of five-year disease-free survival.

Figure 2
Disease-free survival and Ki-67 expression. Continuous line: Ki-67 ≤ 5%. Dashed line: Ki-67 > 5% (p = 0.01).

Second primary neoplasms were observed in 14 patients (27.5%). Of those, 11 were diagnosed with typical bronchial carcinoid tumor. Only 5 patients were smokers. Of the 14 patients with second primary neoplasms, 11 (21.5%) had malignant neoplasms and 3 (6.0%) had benign neoplasms. The most common malignant neoplasms were lung adenocarcinoma, in 3, and ovarian carcinoma, in 2. The characteristics of second primary neoplasms are presented in Table 3.

Table 3
Characteristics of second primary neoplasms in patients with bronchial carcinoid tumors.

Second primary neoplasms were classified as previous to, synchronous with, and subsequent to bronchial carcinoid tumors in 6 (11.8%), 5 (9.8%), and 3 (5.9%) of the patients, respectively. The median time between the diagnosis of previous primary neoplasms and that of bronchial carcinoid tumors was 20.6 months (range, 7.8-196.8 months), whereas the median time between the diagnosis of subsequent primary neoplasms and that of bronchial carcinoid tumors was 34.7 months (range, 17.8-42.6 months).

Correlations between different characteristics of bronchial carcinoid tumors and concomitant primary neoplasms are shown in Table 4. Concomitant primary neoplasms were found to be most common in asymptomatic patients and in those with small (T1 or T2) bronchial carcinoid tumors (Table 4).

Table 4
Correlation of clinicopathological variables between patients with bronchial carcinoid tumors with and without second primary neoplasms.

DISCUSSION

Carcinoid tumors comprise 0.5% of all malignant neoplasms, and only 20-25% of those arise from the bronchopulmonary system.11 Modlim IM, Lye KD, Kidd M. A 5-decade analysis of 13,715 carcinoid tumors. Cancer. 2003;97(4):934-59. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.11105
https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.11105...
Because it is a rare neoplasm, most of the studies on carcinoid tumors are retrospective in nature and include a small number of patients recruited over a long period of time.55 Filosso PL, Oliaro A, Ruffini E, Bora G, Lyberis P, Asioli S, et al. Outcome and prognostic factors in bronchial carcinoids: a single-center experience. J Thorac Oncol. 2013;8(10):1282-8. https://doi.org/10.1097/JTO.0b013e31829f097a
https://doi.org/10.1097/JTO.0b013e31829f...
,66 Yang Z, Wang Z, Duan Y, Xu S. Clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of resected cases of carcinoid tumors of the lung. Thoracic Cancer. 2016;7(6):633-638. https://doi.org/10.1111/1759-7714.12377
https://doi.org/10.1111/1759-7714.12377...
Our study included 51 patients over a period of 10 years, similar to or even greater than other series that reported cases in a single institution.66 Yang Z, Wang Z, Duan Y, Xu S. Clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of resected cases of carcinoid tumors of the lung. Thoracic Cancer. 2016;7(6):633-638. https://doi.org/10.1111/1759-7714.12377
https://doi.org/10.1111/1759-7714.12377...
,1313 Stefani A, Morandi U, Uregesse AL, Rivasi L, Lodi R. Carcinoid tumors of the lung. An analysis of 65 operated cases. J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino). 1999;40(4):607-12. https://doi.org/10.1097/00000478-199808000-00003
https://doi.org/10.1097/00000478-1998080...
,1414 Maurizi G, Ibrahim M, Andreeti C, Dandrilli A, Ciccone AM, Pomes LM, et al. Long-term results after resection of bronchial carcinoid tumour: evaluation of survival and prognostic factors. Interact Cardiovascular and Thorac Surg. 2014;19(2):239-44.

In the present study, most of the carcinoid tumors were classified as typical, with no clinical manifestations, and the size of the tumor was small. The same characteristics have been described in different studies, suggesting that carcinoid tumors have an indolent clinical behavior.55 Filosso PL, Oliaro A, Ruffini E, Bora G, Lyberis P, Asioli S, et al. Outcome and prognostic factors in bronchial carcinoids: a single-center experience. J Thorac Oncol. 2013;8(10):1282-8. https://doi.org/10.1097/JTO.0b013e31829f097a
https://doi.org/10.1097/JTO.0b013e31829f...
,1414 Maurizi G, Ibrahim M, Andreeti C, Dandrilli A, Ciccone AM, Pomes LM, et al. Long-term results after resection of bronchial carcinoid tumour: evaluation of survival and prognostic factors. Interact Cardiovascular and Thorac Surg. 2014;19(2):239-44. Clinical manifestations have been reported in 40-50% of cases,22 Fink G, Krelbaum T, Yellin A, Bendayan D, Saute M, Glazer KM. Pulmonary carcinoid: presentation, diagnosis, and outcome in 142 cases in Israel and review of 640 cases from the literature. Chest. 2001;119(6):1647-51. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.119.6.1647
https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.119.6.1647...
,77 Modlin IM, Sandor A. An analysis of 8305 cases of carcinoid tumors. Cancer. 1997;79(4): 813-29. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0142(19970215)79:4&lt;813::AID-CNCR19&gt;3.0.CO;2-2
https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0142(...
,1515 Kyriss T, Maier S, Veit S, Fritz P, Toomes H, Friedel G. Carcinoid lung tumors: long-term results from 111 resections. Thorac Surg Sci. 2006;3:Doc03. https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivu109
https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivu109...
the most common being recurrent pneumonia, hemoptysis, wheezing, dyspnea, and cough, as in our study.

Surgical resection is the mainstay curative treatment of bronchial carcinoid tumors; however, there are some questions regarding the extent of resection and the role of mediastinal lymphadenectomy.1616 Afoke J, Tan C, Hunt I, Zakkar M. Is sublobar resection equivalent to lobectomy for surgical management of peripheral carcinoid? Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2013;16(6):858-63. https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivt067
https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivt067...
,1717 Jakhetiya A, Garg PK, Pandey R, Ramanathan P, Kumar S, Nath D, et al. Surgical management of bronchopulmonary carcinoids: A single center experience. South Asian J Cancer. 2017;6(1):6-10. https://doi.org/10.4103/2278-330X.202568
https://doi.org/10.4103/2278-330X.202568...
Some authors have suggested sublobar resection as an appropriate surgical approach for peripheral typical bronchial carcinoid tumors. Nevertheless, other authors recommend lobectomy/pneumonectomy regardless of the histological type.1818 Fox M, Van Berkel V, Bousamra M, Sloan S, Martin RC. Surgical management of pulmonary carcinoid tumors: sublobar resection versus lobectomy. Am J Surg. 2013;205(2):200-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2012.05.008
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2012.0...

19 Ferguson MK, Landreneau RJ, Hazlerigg SR, Altorki NK, Naunheim KS, Zwischenberger JB, et al. Long-term outcome after resection for bronchial carcinoid tumors. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2000;18(2):156-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1010-7940(00)00493-0
https://doi.org/10.1016/S1010-7940(00)00...
-2020 Yendamuri S, Gold D, Jayaprakash V, Dexter E, Nwogu C, Demmy T. Is sublobar resection sufficient for carcinoid tumors? Ann Thorac Surg. 2011;92(5):1774-8; discussion 1778-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.08.080
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.201...
Given that all of the aforementioned studies were retrospective in nature and compared heterogeneous groups of patients, it is difficult to draw any definitive conclusions about the extent of surgical resection to treat bronchial carcinoid tumors.1616 Afoke J, Tan C, Hunt I, Zakkar M. Is sublobar resection equivalent to lobectomy for surgical management of peripheral carcinoid? Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2013;16(6):858-63. https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivt067
https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivt067...
Sublobar resection could be an adequate procedure for small peripheral typical bronchial carcinoid tumors. In addition, pneumonectomy should be avoided when performing bronchoplasty or arterioplasty.11 Modlim IM, Lye KD, Kidd M. A 5-decade analysis of 13,715 carcinoid tumors. Cancer. 2003;97(4):934-59. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.11105
https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.11105...
,1919 Ferguson MK, Landreneau RJ, Hazlerigg SR, Altorki NK, Naunheim KS, Zwischenberger JB, et al. Long-term outcome after resection for bronchial carcinoid tumors. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2000;18(2):156-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1010-7940(00)00493-0
https://doi.org/10.1016/S1010-7940(00)00...

20 Yendamuri S, Gold D, Jayaprakash V, Dexter E, Nwogu C, Demmy T. Is sublobar resection sufficient for carcinoid tumors? Ann Thorac Surg. 2011;92(5):1774-8; discussion 1778-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.08.080
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.201...
-2121 Mezzetti M, Raveglia F, Panigalli T, Giuliani L, Lo Giudice F, Meda S, et al. Assessment of outcomes in typical and atypical carcinoids according to latest WHO classification. Ann Thorac Surg. 2003;76(6):1838-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-4975(03)01194-9
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-4975(03)01...

There are no definitive studies addressing the role of mediastinal lymphadenectomy in long-term survival. One group of authors found mediastinal lymph node metastases in 11.1% of cases, and most of the cases classified as N2 (83.3%) were not identified during preoperative evaluation.2222 Wurtz A, Benhamed L, Conti M, Bouchindhomme B, Porte H. Results of systematic nodal dissection in typical and atypical carcinoid tumors of the lung. J Thorac Oncol. 2009(3);4:388-94. https://doi.org/10.1097/JTO.0b013e3181951aa6
https://doi.org/10.1097/JTO.0b013e318195...
Because mediastinal lymph node metastases appear to be a determinant of prognosis, resection of mediastinal lymph nodes could be important for adequate pathological staging and treatment.

As in other studies,1313 Stefani A, Morandi U, Uregesse AL, Rivasi L, Lodi R. Carcinoid tumors of the lung. An analysis of 65 operated cases. J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino). 1999;40(4):607-12. https://doi.org/10.1097/00000478-199808000-00003
https://doi.org/10.1097/00000478-1998080...
,1717 Jakhetiya A, Garg PK, Pandey R, Ramanathan P, Kumar S, Nath D, et al. Surgical management of bronchopulmonary carcinoids: A single center experience. South Asian J Cancer. 2017;6(1):6-10. https://doi.org/10.4103/2278-330X.202568
https://doi.org/10.4103/2278-330X.202568...
,1818 Fox M, Van Berkel V, Bousamra M, Sloan S, Martin RC. Surgical management of pulmonary carcinoid tumors: sublobar resection versus lobectomy. Am J Surg. 2013;205(2):200-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2012.05.008
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2012.0...
lobectomy was the most common type of surgical intervention performed (in 84.3% of cases) in the present study. In order to avoid pneumonectomy, a bronchoplastic procedure was performed in 9 cases (17.6%), and arterioplasty was necessary in 1 patient. Mediastinal lymphadenectomy is our standard approach for all lung cancers. However, in our series of bronchial carcinoid tumors, no lymph nodes were removed in 3 patients. Those patients were older and underwent sublobar resection of small and peripheral tumors. Metastases were found in only 3 (5.8%) of the patients submitted to mediastinal lymphadenectomy. Despite these controversial aspects, we believe that lobectomy associated with mediastinal lymphadenectomy should be performed in all patients with adequate clinical performance, regardless of histological type and absence of lymph node metastases in clinical staging. We recommend this approach because sometimes complete histological classification is only obtained after complete resection and analysis of an entire specimen. The possible presence of clinically unsuspected lymph node metastases demands lymphadenectomy.

Since bronchial carcinoid tumors usually have a less aggressive biological behavior, the overall survival is good. Various studies have reported low rates of recurrence and 5-year overall survival higher than 80%.55 Filosso PL, Oliaro A, Ruffini E, Bora G, Lyberis P, Asioli S, et al. Outcome and prognostic factors in bronchial carcinoids: a single-center experience. J Thorac Oncol. 2013;8(10):1282-8. https://doi.org/10.1097/JTO.0b013e31829f097a
https://doi.org/10.1097/JTO.0b013e31829f...
,1818 Fox M, Van Berkel V, Bousamra M, Sloan S, Martin RC. Surgical management of pulmonary carcinoid tumors: sublobar resection versus lobectomy. Am J Surg. 2013;205(2):200-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2012.05.008
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2012.0...
,2121 Mezzetti M, Raveglia F, Panigalli T, Giuliani L, Lo Giudice F, Meda S, et al. Assessment of outcomes in typical and atypical carcinoids according to latest WHO classification. Ann Thorac Surg. 2003;76(6):1838-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-4975(03)01194-9
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-4975(03)01...

Some prognostic factors can help predict more aggressive biological behavior among bronchial carcinoid tumors. Atypical carcinoid tumors and lymph node metastasis are described as factors associated with a worse prognosis.55 Filosso PL, Oliaro A, Ruffini E, Bora G, Lyberis P, Asioli S, et al. Outcome and prognostic factors in bronchial carcinoids: a single-center experience. J Thorac Oncol. 2013;8(10):1282-8. https://doi.org/10.1097/JTO.0b013e31829f097a
https://doi.org/10.1097/JTO.0b013e31829f...
,1515 Kyriss T, Maier S, Veit S, Fritz P, Toomes H, Friedel G. Carcinoid lung tumors: long-term results from 111 resections. Thorac Surg Sci. 2006;3:Doc03. https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivu109
https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivu109...
,2121 Mezzetti M, Raveglia F, Panigalli T, Giuliani L, Lo Giudice F, Meda S, et al. Assessment of outcomes in typical and atypical carcinoids according to latest WHO classification. Ann Thorac Surg. 2003;76(6):1838-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-4975(03)01194-9
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-4975(03)01...
,2323 Aydin E, Yazici U, Gulgosteren M, Agackiran Y, Kaya S, Gulhan E, et al. Long-term outcomes and prognostic factors of patients with surgically treated pulmonary carcinoid: our institutional experience with 104 patients. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2011;39(4):549-54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejcts.2010.08.010
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejcts.2010.08....
Histology is considered to be an independent prognostic factor in most studies.22 Fink G, Krelbaum T, Yellin A, Bendayan D, Saute M, Glazer KM. Pulmonary carcinoid: presentation, diagnosis, and outcome in 142 cases in Israel and review of 640 cases from the literature. Chest. 2001;119(6):1647-51. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.119.6.1647
https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.119.6.1647...
,55 Filosso PL, Oliaro A, Ruffini E, Bora G, Lyberis P, Asioli S, et al. Outcome and prognostic factors in bronchial carcinoids: a single-center experience. J Thorac Oncol. 2013;8(10):1282-8. https://doi.org/10.1097/JTO.0b013e31829f097a
https://doi.org/10.1097/JTO.0b013e31829f...
,1515 Kyriss T, Maier S, Veit S, Fritz P, Toomes H, Friedel G. Carcinoid lung tumors: long-term results from 111 resections. Thorac Surg Sci. 2006;3:Doc03. https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivu109
https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivu109...
,1919 Ferguson MK, Landreneau RJ, Hazlerigg SR, Altorki NK, Naunheim KS, Zwischenberger JB, et al. Long-term outcome after resection for bronchial carcinoid tumors. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2000;18(2):156-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1010-7940(00)00493-0
https://doi.org/10.1016/S1010-7940(00)00...
,2121 Mezzetti M, Raveglia F, Panigalli T, Giuliani L, Lo Giudice F, Meda S, et al. Assessment of outcomes in typical and atypical carcinoids according to latest WHO classification. Ann Thorac Surg. 2003;76(6):1838-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-4975(03)01194-9
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-4975(03)01...
,2424 Cardillo G, Sera F, Di Martino M, Graziano P, Giunti R, Carbone L, et al. Bronchial carcinoid tumors: nodal status and long-term survival after resection. Ann Thorac Surg. 2004;77(5):1781-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2003.10.089
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.200...
Contrary to what has been described in most studies,55 Filosso PL, Oliaro A, Ruffini E, Bora G, Lyberis P, Asioli S, et al. Outcome and prognostic factors in bronchial carcinoids: a single-center experience. J Thorac Oncol. 2013;8(10):1282-8. https://doi.org/10.1097/JTO.0b013e31829f097a
https://doi.org/10.1097/JTO.0b013e31829f...

6 Yang Z, Wang Z, Duan Y, Xu S. Clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of resected cases of carcinoid tumors of the lung. Thoracic Cancer. 2016;7(6):633-638. https://doi.org/10.1111/1759-7714.12377
https://doi.org/10.1111/1759-7714.12377...
-77 Modlin IM, Sandor A. An analysis of 8305 cases of carcinoid tumors. Cancer. 1997;79(4): 813-29. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0142(19970215)79:4&lt;813::AID-CNCR19&gt;3.0.CO;2-2
https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0142(...
,1111 Travis WD, Rush W, Flieder DB, Falk R, Fleming MV, Gal AA, et al. Survival analysis of 200 pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors with clarification of criteria for atypical carcinoid and its separation from typical carcinoid. Am J Surg Pathol. 1998;22(8):934-44.,2121 Mezzetti M, Raveglia F, Panigalli T, Giuliani L, Lo Giudice F, Meda S, et al. Assessment of outcomes in typical and atypical carcinoids according to latest WHO classification. Ann Thorac Surg. 2003;76(6):1838-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-4975(03)01194-9
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-4975(03)01...
5-year DFS was not significantly different between typical (92%) and atypical (80%) carcinoid tumors in our study. According to Cardilo et al.,2424 Cardillo G, Sera F, Di Martino M, Graziano P, Giunti R, Carbone L, et al. Bronchial carcinoid tumors: nodal status and long-term survival after resection. Ann Thorac Surg. 2004;77(5):1781-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2003.10.089
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.200...
histology is not an independent determinant of survival. Kornerup et al.2525 Kornerup LS, Dam G, Gronbaek H. Survival and Predictors of Death for Patients with Bronchopulmonary Carcinoid at a Danish Tertiary NET Centre. In Vivo. 2017;31(3):397-402. https://doi.org/10.21873/invivo.11072
https://doi.org/10.21873/invivo.11072...
evaluated 68 patients with carcinoid tumors and found no differences in overall survival between typical and atypical tumors. With regard to histology, our results are inconsistent with those of other studies.55 Filosso PL, Oliaro A, Ruffini E, Bora G, Lyberis P, Asioli S, et al. Outcome and prognostic factors in bronchial carcinoids: a single-center experience. J Thorac Oncol. 2013;8(10):1282-8. https://doi.org/10.1097/JTO.0b013e31829f097a
https://doi.org/10.1097/JTO.0b013e31829f...

6 Yang Z, Wang Z, Duan Y, Xu S. Clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of resected cases of carcinoid tumors of the lung. Thoracic Cancer. 2016;7(6):633-638. https://doi.org/10.1111/1759-7714.12377
https://doi.org/10.1111/1759-7714.12377...
-77 Modlin IM, Sandor A. An analysis of 8305 cases of carcinoid tumors. Cancer. 1997;79(4): 813-29. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0142(19970215)79:4&lt;813::AID-CNCR19&gt;3.0.CO;2-2
https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0142(...
,1111 Travis WD, Rush W, Flieder DB, Falk R, Fleming MV, Gal AA, et al. Survival analysis of 200 pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors with clarification of criteria for atypical carcinoid and its separation from typical carcinoid. Am J Surg Pathol. 1998;22(8):934-44.,2121 Mezzetti M, Raveglia F, Panigalli T, Giuliani L, Lo Giudice F, Meda S, et al. Assessment of outcomes in typical and atypical carcinoids according to latest WHO classification. Ann Thorac Surg. 2003;76(6):1838-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-4975(03)01194-9
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-4975(03)01...
This might be due to the fact that there were few (only three) recurrent events and the median follow-up period was short (i.e., 37.6 months) in our study.

In our study, Ki-67 expression was the only variable associated with prognosis. Because determination of Ki-67 expression is not routinely performed at our institution, data on Ki-67 expression were available for 27 patients only, and any statistical analysis of a small group of cases should be cautiously interpreted. Nevertheless, DFS was significantly higher in patients with Ki-67 expression < 5% in our sample. Kornerup et al.2525 Kornerup LS, Dam G, Gronbaek H. Survival and Predictors of Death for Patients with Bronchopulmonary Carcinoid at a Danish Tertiary NET Centre. In Vivo. 2017;31(3):397-402. https://doi.org/10.21873/invivo.11072
https://doi.org/10.21873/invivo.11072...
also found that the histological classification (typical or atypical tumors) had no influence on the outcomes, but Ki-67 expression was an important prognostic factor. Similarly, Zahel et al.2626 Zahel T, Krysa S, Herpel E, Stenzinger A, Goeppert B, Schirmacher P, et al. Phenotyping of pulmonary carcinoids and a Ki-67-based grading approach. Virchows Arch. 2012;460(3):299-308. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-012-1194-2
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-012-1194-...
questioned the reliability of that histological classification to determine the biological behavior of pulmonary carcinoid tumors. They concluded that Ki-67 expression and mitotic count are better predictors of the clinical behavior of these tumors.2525 Kornerup LS, Dam G, Gronbaek H. Survival and Predictors of Death for Patients with Bronchopulmonary Carcinoid at a Danish Tertiary NET Centre. In Vivo. 2017;31(3):397-402. https://doi.org/10.21873/invivo.11072
https://doi.org/10.21873/invivo.11072...
,2626 Zahel T, Krysa S, Herpel E, Stenzinger A, Goeppert B, Schirmacher P, et al. Phenotyping of pulmonary carcinoids and a Ki-67-based grading approach. Virchows Arch. 2012;460(3):299-308. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-012-1194-2
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-012-1194-...
Because of those controversies, prognostic factors in patients with bronchial carcinoid tumors should be continuously evaluated.

The occurrence of second primary neoplasms in patients with carcinoid tumors has been described over the years. Berge and Linel88 Berge T, Linell F. Carcinoid tumours. Frequency in a defined population during a 12-year period. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand A. 1976;84(4):322-30. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1699-0463.1976.tb00122.x
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1699-0463.1976...
were the first to describe it, in 1976; they found second primary neoplasms in 40.7% of the patients in their retrospective study. However, neoplasms were incidentally found in 44.5% of autopsies, a proportion that is similar to that reported for second primary neoplasms in patients with carcinoid tumors and suggests that the incidence of second primary malignant neoplasms in patients with carcinoid tumors is no higher than that reported for patients with other cancers.88 Berge T, Linell F. Carcinoid tumours. Frequency in a defined population during a 12-year period. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand A. 1976;84(4):322-30. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1699-0463.1976.tb00122.x
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1699-0463.1976...
Nevertheless, other, more recent studies have shown that the prevalence of patients with carcinoid tumors and second primary neoplasms ranges from 18% to 25%.99 Li AF, Hsu CY, Li A, Tai LC, Liang WY, Tsai SH, et al. A 35-year retrospective study of carcinoid tumors in Taiwan: differences in distribution with a high probability of associated second primary malignancies. Cancer. 2008;112(2):274-83. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.23159
https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.23159...
,2727 Saha S, Hoda S, Godfrey R, Sutherland C, Raybon K. Carcinoid tumor of the gastrointestinal tract: a 44-year experience. South Med J. 1989;82(12):1501-5. https://doi.org/10.1097/00007611-198912000-00011
https://doi.org/10.1097/00007611-1989120...

28 Marshall JB, Bodnarchuk G. Carcinoid tumor of the gut. Our experience over three decades and review of the literature. J Clin Gastroenterol. 1993:16(2):123-9. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004836-199303000-00009
https://doi.org/10.1097/00004836-1993030...
-2929 Lococo F, Galeone C, Sacchettini C, Leuzzi G, Cesario A, Paci M, et al. Second malignancy risk in patients with bronchopulmonary carcinoids: epidemiological results from Italian Network of Cancer Registries. Tumori. 2017;103(2):e15-e20. https://doi.org/10.5301/tj.5000598
https://doi.org/10.5301/tj.5000598...

Our study found a strong association between bronchial carcinoid tumors and other primary neoplasms (27.5%). Most of the bronchial carcinoid tumors were identified after detection of other neoplasms and were small and asymptomatic. These findings suggest that bronchial carcinoid tumors constituted incidental findings in patients with previous neoplasms. This remains to be explained. It might be a simple association, or, as some authors have suggested,3030 Orbeg K. Expression of growth factors and their receptors in neuroendocrine gut and pancreatic tumors, and prognostic factors for survival. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1994;733:46-55. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1994.tb17255.x
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1994...
the high frequency of concomitant neoplasms might be the result of mitogenic activity of growth factors secreted by carcinoid tumors.

The present study has some limitations that should be considered: its retrospective nature, the small number of cases over a long period of time, the small number of recurrent events, and the short follow-up period.

In conclusion, the present study showed that bronchial carcinoid tumors are rare neoplasms and that complete surgical resection offers a good prognosis. Although additional studies are needed in order to identify determinants of prognosis, mitotic activity, as measured by Ki-67 expression, seems to be an important prognostic factor. Bronchial carcinoid tumors are likely to be accompanied by second primary neoplasms. The reasons for this association remain unclear, and additional studies are needed to address this question.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank A.C. Camargo Cancer Center Research Nurse Ana Carolina Scintini for data collection and tabulation.

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    » https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1994.tb17255.x
  • 1
    Study carried out at A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo (SP) Brasil.
  • Financial support:

    None.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    16 Sept 2019
  • Date of issue
    2019

History

  • Received
    29 Apr 2018
  • Accepted
    09 Jan 2019
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