Tumours of the Lung and the Carcinoid Syndrome

Abstract

The majority of bronchial adenomas show a histological structure usually described as carcinoid in type. Until recently the term " carcinoid " used in this way was meant to be descriptive only, on the understanding that this tumour bore no relationship to the better-known carcinoids of the alimentary tract. This sharp distinction has been challenged histologically by Feyrter (1959a) and on functional grounds by The charac- teristics of the carcinoid syndrome in association with malignant argentaffinomas of the small bowel have been well described by Thorson, Biorck, Bjorkman, and A case of bronchial adenoma previously published by Kincaid-Smith and Brossy (1956) has since shown features similar to those of the American workers. The new data on this case are presented here, together with some observations that cast light on the possible relationship between the carcinoid type of bronchial adenomas and carcinoids of the bowel. In addition, a case of oat-cell carcinoma of the bronchus with an associated " carcinoid " syn- drome is reported.