History: 32 yo pregnant female with extreme shortness of breath and wheezing. Unable to lie on her stomach due to worsening of shortness of breath.
Solution: Tracheal carcinoid tumor
Carcinoid tumor in the chest arises from pulmonary neuroendocrine cells. They are low-grade malignant tumors that represent around 2% of all primary pulmonary neoplasms. They have a good prognosis with around 90% 5 year survival and usually present with cough or hemoptysis. Typical carcinoid tumors (type 1 cell of origin) are generally central in location and often originate in a lobar, segmental, or subsegmental bronchus. They can be seen as an endobronchial lesion and can be associated with post-obstructive changes in the lung. This case is unusual in that the tumor arose from the trachea and resulted in near complete obstruction prior to being discovered. On this sagital reconstruction, you can see how narrowed the trachea truly was.
A minority of pulmonary carcinoids calcify and they often vigorously enhance. Atypical carcinoids (type 2 cell of origin) tend to be more peripheral and aggressive, with up to 50% metastasizing. However, they are also less common, representing approximately 10% of these tumors.
Carcinoid tumor in the chest arises from pulmonary neuroendocrine cells. They are low-grade malignant tumors that represent around 2% of all primary pulmonary neoplasms. They have a good prognosis with around 90% 5 year survival and usually present with cough or hemoptysis. Typical carcinoid tumors (type 1 cell of origin) are generally central in location and often originate in a lobar, segmental, or subsegmental bronchus. They can be seen as an endobronchial lesion and can be associated with post-obstructive changes in the lung. This case is unusual in that the tumor arose from the trachea and resulted in near complete obstruction prior to being discovered. On this sagital reconstruction, you can see how narrowed the trachea truly was.
A minority of pulmonary carcinoids calcify and they often vigorously enhance. Atypical carcinoids (type 2 cell of origin) tend to be more peripheral and aggressive, with up to 50% metastasizing. However, they are also less common, representing approximately 10% of these tumors.
CT Images
