Performance of capsule endoscopy for the detection of small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors in familial carcinoid: a prospective single-site study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Small-bowel neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are slow growing, clinically silent tumors whose prognosis depends on disease stage. Members of kindreds with a familial form of small intestinal NETs (SI-NETs) represent a high-risk population for whom early detection improves disease outcome. Our aim was to determine the utility of small-bowel capsule endoscopy (SB-CE) for screening high-risk asymptomatic relatives from kindreds with familial carcinoid. METHODS: One hundred seventy-four asymptomatic subjects with a family history (≥2 family members) of SI-NETs were screened under Protocol NCT00646022, Natural History of Familial Carcinoid Tumor at the National Institutes of Health. All patients were imaged with SB-CE and 18fluoro-dihydroxphenylalanine (18F-DOPA) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT, and results were independently analyzed. Patients with a positive imaging study underwent surgical exploration. RESULTS: Thirty-five of 174 asymptomatic subjects screened for SI-NETs were positive on either SB-CE or 18F-DOPA PET. Thirty-two of 35 patients with a positive study were confirmed at surgery. SB-CE was positive in 28 of 32 patients with confirmed tumors for a per-patient sensitivity of 87.5%. SB-CE had a specificity of 97.3% and a negative predictive value of 96.5%. The average tumor number and size were 7.7 and 5.0 mm, respectively, and 81.2% of patients had multiple tumors. 18F-DOPA PET/CT had a similar sensitivity of 84% versus surgery. CONCLUSIONS: SB-CE is a sensitive and specific method comparable with 18F-DOPA PET/CT for screening high-risk patients with familial SI-NET. (Clinical trial registration number: NCT00646022.).

The diagnostic and prognostic role of combined [18F]FDG and [68Ga]-DOTA-peptides PET/CT in primary pulmonary carcinoids: a multicentric experience.

OBJECTIVES: In the present retrospective multicentric study, we combined [68Ga]-DOTA-peptides and [18F]FDG-PET/CT findings aiming to investigate their capability to differentiate typical (TC) and atypical pulmonary carcinoids (AC) and their prognostic role. METHODS: From three centers, 61 patients were retrospectively included. Based on a dual tracer combination we classified PET scans as score 1, [18F]FDG- and [68Ga]-DOTA-peptides negative; score 2, [68Ga]-DOTA-peptides positive and [18F]FDG-negative; score 3, [68Ga]-DOTA-peptides negative and [18F]FDG-positive; score 4, both tracers positive. Moreover, for each patient, the ratios of SUVmax on [68Ga]-DOTA-PET to that on [18F]FDG-PET were calculated (SUVr). RESULTS: Thirty-five patients had a final diagnosis of TC. Twenty-two TC (57%) had positive [68Ga]-DOTA-peptides PET; instead, 21/26 (81%) AC had positive [18F]FDG-PET/CT. On dual-tracer analysis, scores 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 13%, 20%, 43% and 24% for all populations; 17%, 26%, 20% and 37% for TC; 8%, 11%, 73% and 8% for AC. Median SUVr was significantly higher in TC than AC (6.4 vs. 0.4, p = 0.011). The best value of SUVr to predict the final diagnosis was 1.05 (AUC 0.889). Relapse or progression of disease happened in 17 patients (11 affected by AC) and death in 10 cases (7 AC). AC diagnosis, positive [18F]FDG-PET, negative DOTA-PET and dual tracer score were significantly correlated with PFS (p = 0.013, p = 0.033, p = 0.029 and p = 0.019), while only AC diagnosis with OS (p = 0.022). CONCLUSION: PET/CT findings had also a prognostic role in predicting PFS. Dual-tracer PET behavior may be used to predict the nature of pulmonary carcinoids and select the most appropriate management. KEY POINTS: • Combination of [18F]FDG and [68Ga]-DOTA-peptides PET/CT results may help to differentiate between atypical and typical lung carcinoids. • The SUVmax ratio between [18F]FDG and [68Ga]-DOTA-peptides PET may help to differentiate between atypical and typical lung carcinoids. • Histotype and PET/CT features have a prognostic impact on PFS.

Malignant and Benign Tracheobronchial Neoplasms: Comprehensive Review with Radiologic, Bronchoscopic, and Pathologic Correlation.

Tracheobronchial neoplasms are much less common than lung parenchymal neoplasms but can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. They include a broad differential of both malignant and benign entities, extending far beyond more commonly known pathologic conditions such as squamous cell carcinoma and carcinoid tumor. Airway lesions may be incidental findings at imaging or manifest with symptoms related to airway narrowing or mucosal irritation, invasion of adjacent structures, or distant metastatic disease. While there is considerable overlap in clinical manifestation, imaging features, and bronchoscopic appearances, an awareness of potential distinguishing factors may help narrow the differential diagnosis. The authors review the epidemiology, imaging characteristics, typical anatomic distributions, bronchoscopic appearances, and histopathologic findings of a wide range of neoplastic entities involving the tracheobronchial tree. Malignant neoplasms discussed include squamous cell carcinoma, malignant salivary gland tumors (adenoid cystic carcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma), carcinoid tumor, sarcomas, primary tracheobronchial lymphoma, and inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor. Benign neoplasms discussed include hamartoma, chondroma, lipoma, papilloma, amyloidoma, leiomyoma, neurogenic lesions, and benign salivary gland tumors (pleomorphic adenoma and mucous gland adenoma). Familiarity with the range of potential entities and any distinguishing features should prove valuable to thoracic radiologists, pulmonologists, and cardiothoracic surgeons when encountering the myriad of tracheobronchial neoplasms in clinical practice. Attention is paid to any features that may help render a more specific diagnosis before pathologic confirmation. ©RSNA, 2023 Quiz questions for this article are available in the supplemental material.

Differentiating Peripherally Located Pulmonary Noncalcified Hamartoma From Carcinoid Using CT Radiomics Approaches.

OBJECTIVE: This article aimed to differentiate noncalcified hamartoma from pulmonary carcinoid preoperatively using computed tomography (CT) radiomics approaches. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The unenhanced CT (UECT) and contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) data of noncalcified hamartoma (n = 73) and pulmonary carcinoid (n = 54; typical/atypical carcinoid = 13/41) were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were randomly divided into the training and validation sets. A total of 396 radiomics features were extracted from UECT and CECT, respectively. The features were selected by using the minimum redundancy maximum relevance and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator to construct a radiomics model. Clinical factors and radiomics features were integrated to build a nomogram model. The performance of clinical factors, radiomics, and nomogram models on the differential diagnosis between noncalcified hamartoma and carcinoid were investigated. Diagnostic performance of radiologists was also explored. RESULT: In regard to distinguishing noncalcified hamartoma from carcinoid, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of the clinical, radiomics, and nomogram models were 0.88, 0.94, and 0.96 in the training set UECT, and were 0.85, 0.92, and 0.96 in the training set CECT, respectively. The areas under the curve of the 3 models were 0.89, 0.96, and 0.96 in the validation set UECT, and were 0.79, 0.90, and 0.94 in the validation set CECT, respectively. The nomogram model exhibited good calibration and was clinically useful by decision curve analysis. Nomogram did not show significant improvement compared with radiomics, neither for UECT nor for CECT. Diagnostic performance of radiologists was lower than both radiomics and nomogram model. CONCLUSIONS: Radiomics approaches may be useful in distinguishing peripheral pulmonary noncalcified hamartoma from carcinoid. Radiomics features extracted from CECT provided no significant benefit when compared with UECT.

Growth Rates of Pulmonary Carcinoid Tumors and Hamartomas.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary nodule growth is often measured by volume doubling time (VDT), which may guide management. Most malignant nodules have a VDT of 20 to 400 days, with longer VDTs typically observed in indolent nodules. We assessed the utility of VDT in differentiating pulmonary carcinoids and hamartomas. METHODS: A review was performed from January 2012 to October 2021 to identify patients with pathologic diagnoses and at least 2 chest computed tomography scans obtained 6 or more months apart. Visualization software was used to segment nodules and calculate diameter and volume. Volume doubling time was calculated for scans with 1-mm slices. For the remainder, estimated nodule volume doubling time (eVDT) was calculated using nodule diameter. Volume doubling times/eVDTs were placed into growth categories: less than 400 days; 400-600 days; and more than 600 days. RESULTS: Sixty nodules were identified, 35 carcinoids and 25 hamartomas. Carcinoids were larger than hamartomas (median diameter, 13.5 vs 11.5 mm; P = 0.05). For carcinoid tumors, median VDT (n = 15) was 1485 days, and median eVDT (n = 32) was 1309 days; for hamartomas, median VDT (n = 8) was 2040 days and median eVDT (n = 25) was 2253 days. Carcinoid tumor eVDT was significantly shorter than hamartomas ( P = 0.03). By growth category, 1 of 25 hamartomas and 5 of 35 carcinoids had eVDT less than 400 days and 24 of 25 hamartomas and 27 of 35 carcinoids had eVDT more than 600 days. Of 4 carcinoid tumors with metastases, 2 had eVDT less than 400 days and 2 had eVDT more than 600 days. CONCLUSIONS: Growth rate was not a reliable differentiator of pulmonary hamartomas and carcinoids. Slow growing carcinoids can metastasize. Radiologists should be cautious when discontinuing computed tomography follow-up based on growth rates alone.

The utility of near infrared autofluorescence imaging for detecting small bowel carcinoid tumors in comparison to DOTATATE PET: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Small bowel carcinoid (SBC) primary tumors can be multifocal in 40%-55% of patients and challenging to detect. Near infrared autofluorescence (NIRAF) is used for detection of parathyroid glands. It is unknown if this technology can be used to identify SBCs and how it would compare with current imaging modalities. METHODS: This was a prospective institutional review board-approved pilot study of three patients undergoing resection of SBCs. NIRAF was used to image SBCs and mesenteric lymph nodes intraoperatively and at back table. Findings were compared with preoperative imaging, surgical exploration and pathology. Statistics were performed using Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Eleven SBCs and 12 mesenteric lymph nodes were analyzed. All SBCs had a brighter focal autofluorescence (AF) signal compared to background. Normalized pixel intensity of SBCs was 2.2 (0.7) and normal small bowel 1.4 (0.6) (p < 0.0001). NIRAF was less accurate in detecting occult lymph node metastasis, but was superior to DOTATATE PET for detecting SBCs in two of three patients. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary report suggests that SBCs exhibit distinctly bright AF signals on NIRAF to create a contrast distinction from normal small bowel. This technology may have a utility as an adjunctive tool for intraoperative detection of occult SBCs.

Primary ovarian carcinoid arising in associated mature cystic teratoma.

BACKGROUND: Primary ovarian carcinoid is a very rare ovarian low-grade neuroendocrine tumor, accounting for about 0.1% of all ovarian neoplasms. CASE PRESENTATION: We reported a case of primary ovarian carcinoid arising from a mature cystic teratoma in a 50-year-old woman. Intraoperative frozen section of left ovarian mass was assessed and a malignant epithelial tumor was considered. Morphologically, the main tumor was composed of cells forming trabeculae, and mature cystic teratoma was observed adjacent to the main part. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the trabecular cells were diffuse positive for pan Cytokeratin, CD56 and synaptophysin with low Ki-67 index (about 1%). CONCLUSIONS: Careful morphological observation combined with appropriate accessory examination are essential for the diagnosis of primary ovarian carcinoid arising from mature cystic teratoma. In addition, the classification criteria of the primary ovarian neuroendocrine tumor are discussed.

Surgical Strategy and Clinical Outcome in Patients with Bronchial Carcinoids.

Carcinoids are malignant neuroendocrine neoplasms showing good long-term survival after oncologic therapy. The study evaluated the influence of operative strategies and individual decision-making on the outcome and long-term survival in 222 patients with bronchial carcinoids. The patients underwent preoperative pulmonary function tests and bronchoscopy to facilitate surgical decision-making. A hundred and twelve tumors were detected endoscopically, including 32 in the main and lobar bronchi. We performed 5 isolated bronchus resections, 4 segmentectomies, 15 wedge resections, 10 pneumonectomies, 19 sleeve resections, 26 bilobectomies, 138 lobectomies, and 2 chest wall resections. Three patients were technically inoperable. Systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy was routinely performed although most patients' computer tomography scans showed N0. A hundred and sixty-two patients had typical (155 N0, 7 N+) and 60 patients had atypical carcinoids (39 N0, 21 N+). There was no intraoperative mortality. The hospital mortality was below 2%. Overall, 1-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates were 99%, 94%, and 89%, respectively, in typical carcinoids. Atypical carcinoids show similar 1- and 5-year survival rates, but the 10-year survival rate was below 70%, decreasing in higher N-stages. The N-stage was the most important survival factor. In conclusion, bronchial carcinoids should be surgically treated the way lung cancer is. Anatomic resection and systematic lymphadenectomy are the treatments of choice. The availability of bronchoplastic techniques and preoperative assessment is essential for individual decision-making, focusing predominantly on postoperative quality of life.

[Primary Carcinoid Tumor of the Urinary Bladder : A Case Report].

An 81-year-old male was referred to our department with a tumor in the left wall of the urinary bladder, which was detected by contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomographic scan (CT), incidentally. Cystoscopy revealed a smooth non-papillary tumor. The patient underwent transurethral resection (TUR) of tumor. An immunohistochemical study showed the tumor cells positively stained for chromogranin A, synaptophysin, CD56, and Ki67. The Ki67 index of the tumor was ＞0.5%, which confirmed the diagnosis of a pure carcinoid tumor. There was no recurrence of bladder tumor and no metastasis after the primary treatment.

Pure Primary Ovarian Carcinoid Tumor.

Primary ovarian carcinoid tumors are uncommon neoplasms that typically arise in the context of a mature cystic teratoma. Pure primary ovarian carcinoid tumors (PPOCTs) are rare and present as a solid ovarian mass in which, by definition, elements of an associated teratoma or other neoplasm are absent. We report a case of a middle-aged woman who presented with abdominal distension. Computed tomography identified a 20 cm abdominopelvic mass. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy, hysterectomy, and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. A large, solid, yellow-tan ovarian mass was resected and diagnosed as a PPOCT. Para-aortic lymph node metastases were identified. This case highlights the gross and microscopic findings characteristic of PPOCTs. In addition, the large number of differential considerations for an insular PPOCT at intraoperative evaluation are discussed.

A rare case of thymic carcinoid presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms and pericardium effusion.

BACKGROUND: Thymic carcinoid is one of an extremely rare type of malignant neuroendocrine tumor with a poor prognosis. Invasion of thymic carcinoid to other organs could lead to devastating consequences. It has been reported that thymic carcinoid mainly invaded to the pleura, lungs, liver, pancreas and bone, while rarely to the cardiac, especially to the ventricle. CASE PRESENTATION: A 53-year-old man presented with gastrointestinal symptoms and persistent pericardial effusion. Multiple imaging tools, including chest computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT (18F-FDG PET/CT) showed a malignant neoplasm arising from the thymus invading into the biventricular myocardium, pericardium, and left superior pulmonary veins. The tumor was finally diagnosed as a thymic carcinoid through pathological examination. CONCLUSION: This is a rare case of thymic carcinoid invading the ventricular myocardium, which presented as subacute heart failure. The observations in this case would be useful for differential diagnosis of primary heart disease and invasion of heart due to thymic carcinoid.

Isolated metastasis of mediastinal carcinoid to the left ventricle: A case report.

Carcinoid tumors are uncommon neuroendocrine tumors that produce high levels of serotonin and are mainly located in the gastrointestinal tract and bronchopulmonary system but very rarely in the mediastinum. These are slow-growing tumors that most commonly present metastatic lesions in the liver, followed by the bones, lungs, and peritoneum. Solid cardiac metastases from carcinoid tumors have seldom been reported. In this case report, we present a patient with a rare localized metastasis in the left ventricle with an antecedent history of resected carcinoid tumor of the anterior mediastinum.

Posterior fossa metastasis of lung carcinoid tumor: case report.

Carcinoid tumors are generally indolent neoplasms. Brain metastases are rare and when present, yield a poor prognosis. We present the case of a 76-year old female surgically treated for an atypical bronchial carcinoid, staged as T2aN0M0G2. Without further adjuvant treatment she remained stable for four years, when she presented with headaches and gait imbalance. Brain MRI revealed a midline, intra-axial infratentorial lesion that was completely removal, of which histolology confirmed a carcinoid metastasis. At 14 months of follow-up, the patient showed no signs of systemic disease or brain recurrence, and thus no adjuvant radiotherapy was prescribed.

Diagnostic yield of the capsule endoscopy and enteroscopy combination for early small bowel carcinoid tumors.

Small bowel carcinoid tumor is a difficult to diagnose entity that can present an aggressive clinical course even if they are small in size. The diagnosis based on tumor markers and imaging tests is limited, but the combination of capsule endoscopy followed by enteroscopy when the carcinoid tumor is suspected, has been shown to be useful for its early diagnosis, as well as for reaching a thorough study of the small bowel. We present a clinical case of two small synchronous carcinoid tumors of the ilium that were diagnosed by using this strategy.

[Ectopic Adrenocorticotropic Hormone-Producing Pulmonary Carcinoid Presenting as Cushing's Syndrome after Intrapleural Hyperthermic Chemotherapy].

The patient was a woman in her 70's was referred to our hospital because of an abnormal shadow on chest roentgenogram at an annual medical checkup. Since preoperative examinations suggested lung cancer in the right middle lobe, thoracoscopic right middle lobectomy was planned. However, pleural dissemination was detected at surgery and we changed the treatment plan to the intrapleural hyperthermic chemotherapy. During the postoperative course, facial edema, hypokalemia, and hyperglycemia developed, and the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome was suggested based on an increase in serum level of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol, and was confirmed by a dexamethasone suppression test. Intrapleural hyperthermic chemotherapy was likely to collapse the ACTH-producing tumor leading Cushing's syndrome.

Diffuse Idiopathic Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Cell Hyperplasia: Imaging and Clinical Features of a Frequently Delayed Diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to assess features of diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH) on CT, clinical presentation, and delays in radiologic and clinical diagnosis in a series of 32 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Medical records of patients with DIPNECH from the years 2000-2017 were obtained from an institutional data warehouse. Inclusion criteria were an available CT examination and either a pathologic diagnosis of DIPNECH or pathologic findings of multiple carcinoid tumorlets or carcinoid tumor with CT features suggesting DIPNECH. Two thoracic radiologists with 10 and 14 years of experience reviewed CT examinations and scored cases in consensus. RESULTS. All 32 patients were women, and most had never smoked (69%). The mean age at presentation was 61 years. Symptoms included chronic cough (59%) or dyspnea (28%), and the initial clinical diagnosis was asthma in 41%. DIPNECH was clinically suspected at presentation in only one case and was mentioned by the interpreting radiologist in only 31% of cases. CT characteristics included numerous nodules with a lower zone and peribronchiolar predominance, mosaic attenuation, and nodular bronchial wall thickening. Number of nodules at least 5 mm in diameter showed strong inverse correlations with the percentage predicted for both forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 second and a moderate inverse correlation with total lung capacity percentage predicted. In cases with a follow-up CT interval of 3 years or longer, 85% of patients showed an increase in size of the largest nodule, and 70% had an increase in size in multiple nodules. CONCLUSION. Many cases of DIPNECH are originally missed or misdiagnosed by radiologists and clinicians. Awareness of the typical clinical and imaging features of DIPNECH may prompt earlier diagnosis of this condition.

Surgical Principles in the Management of Small Bowel Neuroendocrine Tumors.

OPINION STATEMENT: Small bowel neuroendocrine tumors (SB NETs) are increasing in frequency and becoming more common in surgical practice. It is often difficult to make the diagnosis of a SB NET at an early stage, as the primary tumor tends to be small and patients are asymptomatic until there is regional or distant metastasis, when they develop abdominal pain, partial obstruction, or bleeding and/or develop carcinoid syndrome. Despite this advanced presentation at the time of diagnosis, patients with metastatic SB NETs, as compared to other gastrointestinal malignancies, have favorable survival, which can be improved by appropriate surgical interventions. With the lack of randomized studies, there is reasonable controversy surrounding the optimal management of patients with SB NETs. As such, treatment of these patients is driven primarily by physician experience and available data based predominantly on retrospective studies. Based on this, current recommendations advocate for patients with SB NETs (localized or metastatic) to be managed at experienced centers by a multidisciplinary team. Eligible patients should undergo surgical resection of primary and regional disease as outlined in this article. Additionally, patients with metastatic disease should be evaluated on a case by case basis to evaluate surgical options that may mitigate bowel symptoms (i.e., pain, intestinal angina, obstruction) and carcinoid symptoms (flushing, diarrhea, hemodynamic instability) and prolong survival. Unlike other gastrointestinal malignancies, aggressive surgical management of these patients, even in the context of unresectable metastatic disease, can improve patients' symptoms and long-term survival. The principles outlined in this article are geared to guide appropriate management of SB NET patients with improvement in quality of life and overall survival outcomes.

Carcinoid Tumorlets Co-Existing with Chronic Pulmonary Inflammatory Processes: Imaging Findings and Histological Appearances.

BACKGROUND Pulmonary carcinoid tumorlets (PCT) are incidental histologic or radiologic discoveries that are localized neuroendocrine tumors whose proliferation is associated with chronic pulmonary inflammatory processes. This study assessed the imaging findings and histological appearances of PCT co-existing with chronic pulmonary inflammatory processes. MATERIAL AND METHODS We performed a retrospective study of 14 patients with incidentally-found PCT with co-existing chronic pulmonary inflammatory processes who underwent preoperative X-rays and CT between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2012. The clinical symptoms, X-rays, CT imaging findings, and histological appearances were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS Twelve women and 2 men were found to have PCT, with a mean age of 55.29±13.90 years (range 25-74 years) at diagnosis. Among these 14 patients, hemoptysis, cough, chest pain, expectoration, and chest tightness were found in 9 (64.3%), 5 (35.7%), 4 (28.6%), 3 (21.4%), and 1, respectively. For most patients, we could not find any small nodules on the X-ray or CT images. However, indirect imaging findings of bronchiectasis (85.7%, 12/14), atelectasis (57.1%, 8/14), inflammation (92.8%, 13/14), tuberculosis (7.1%, 1/14), and lung cancer (7.1%, 1/14) were found in all 14 patients. CONCLUSIONS PCT occurs most commonly in middle-aged women who have chronic pulmonary inflammatory processes such as bronchiectasis, atelectasis, and inflammation. Although there are no specific symptoms or direct imaging findings in these patients, our results showed that patients who have bronchiectasis, atelectasis, or recurrent pulmonary infection are at increased risk for PCT.

Diagnostic imaging of typical lung carcinoids: relationship between MDCT, 111In-Octreoscan and 18F-FDG-PET imaging features with Ki-67 index.

AIMS: This study analyses the capability of contrast-enhanced multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) and spectrum of molecular imaging to characterize typical carcinoids (TCs) of lung and their relationship with Ki-67 index. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analysed 68 patients with histological diagnosis of pulmonary TC, which underwent both MDCT and nuclear molecular imaging (somatostatin receptor scintigraphy/SPECT with 111In-pentetreotide and 18F-FDG-PET/CT) at staging evaluation before surgery. The MDCT scan was reviewed for the following features: size, margins, contrast enhancement, presence of calcifications, bronchial obstruction, lymph nodes and metastases. In 111In-pentetreotide SPECT, tumour/non-tumour ratio was measured at 4- and 24-h post-injection and the per cent difference was calculated (T/NT%). FDG uptake was measured as the ratio between lesion SUVmax and liver SUVmean (SUV ratio). All imaging features were correlated between them and with Ki-67 index. RESULTS: Forty-four of the 68 lesions (65%) were in the right lung. In MDCT, scan lesions appeared as a well-defined nodule in 44 patients (65%) and irregular mass in 24 patients (35%). Contrast intense enhancement was present in 53 patients (78%), calcifications in 20 patients (29%) and bronchial obstruction in 24 patients (35%). Lymph nodes and metastasis were present in 13 (19%) and 15 (22%) patients. Ki-67 index was negatively correlated with T/NT% and positively with SUV ratio; T/NT% and SUV ratio were inversely correlated. The presence of irregular margins and metastases was negatively related to T/NT%. The presence of a mass, irregular margins, bronchial obstruction, lymph nodes and metastasis was positively related to higher SUV ratio. The presence of irregular margins, bronchial obstruction, lymph nodes and metastases was significantly correlated with a higher grade of Ki-67 index. CONCLUSIONS: MDCT and nuclear molecular imaging are important to characterize lung TCs. The majority of TCs appear as a well-defined nodule generally not associated with extra-thorax signs. We found a significant correlation between some MDCT aspects, nuclear medicine features and Ki-67 index. The association of MDCT and nuclear medicine imaging may be useful in predicting proliferative activity and prognosis of lung TCs.

Pseudocystic appearance of an orbital carcinoid metastasis.

Carcinoid tumours are a low-grade neuroendocrine malignancy that infrequently metastisizes to orbital structures. The typical radiological appearance of carcinoid is a solid, well-circumscribed mass that enhances with contrast. We present a case of orbital carcinoid metastasis with pseudocystic radiological appearance and review of the literature.