Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCauses and Risk FactorsDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Causes and Risk Factors
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Coping
Carcinoid lung tumors, also known as lung carcinoids,account for about 1% to 2% of lung cancers.These tumors, their risk factors, and their symptoms are different fromnon-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) andsmall cell lung cancer(SCLC), which are the more common types of lung cancer. For example, younger people and non-smokers are more likely to develop carcinoid lung tumors.
If you’ve been diagnosed with carcinoid lung tumors, it’s important that you understand the unique aspects of this type of cancer, keeping in mind that your experience will be different than that of most other lung cancer patients. It will not be an easy journey, but the survival rate with a lung carcinoid cancer is better than that of other types of lung cancer.
Types of Carcinoid Tumors of the Lung
Carcinoid tumors are a form ofneuroendocrinetumor. Neuroendocrine cells are found throughout the body, including the lungs. If these cells multiply excessively, they form small carcinoid tumors. These tumors can form in organs throughout the body. Only 3 out of 10 carcinoid tumors are found in the lungs.
Carcinoid tumors of the lung are divided into two primary types: typical and atypical.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Cancer Cells vs. Normal Cells: How Are They Different?
Lung Carcinoid Tumor Symptoms
Carcinoid tumors of the lung, especially typical carcinoids, tend to grow centrally near the large airways. Because of the location, about 66% of people notice symptoms early in the disease course.For the other 34%, the tumors may grow so slowly that symptoms might not be noticeable for years. In these instances, the cancer may only be found early if you have a test (like a chest X-Ray) for another reason.
When symptoms are present, they’re usually related to airway obstruction and might include:
Recurrent lung infections such asbronchitisandpneumoniamay also occur if a large tumor blocks the airway. Your healthcare providers may become concerned that you could have cancer if your infection persists despite antibiotic treatment.
Less commonly, carcinoids may present with symptoms of advanced cancer such as loss of appetite and weight loss.
Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer
Related to Hormone Secretions
Some carcinoid tumors secrete hormones or hormone-like substances into the bloodstream.
In addition, rare effects can also occur as a result of hormonal secretions from carcinoid tumors. These include:
Overall, carcinoids are a very heterogeneous group of cancers, which means the cells within a tumor and from one tumor to another differ significantly. This can lead to multiple systemic effects and the need for more than one treatment strategy.
Thecauses and risk factors of carcinoid lung tumorsare not known. Unlike other pulmonary diseases, smoking and air pollutants don’t seem to be associated with it.
Some factors that have been observed include:
What You Should Know about Genetics and Lung Cancer
The diagnosis of carcinoid tumors is sometimes challenging early on. For example, carcinoid tumors that secrete ACTH may have symptoms that are almost identical to Cushing’s syndrome before any lung symptoms occur.
Imaging
If your healthcare provider is concerned that you could have lung cancer or another pulmonary related disorder, you might need to have diagnostic tests.
These tests may include:
A CT scan (magnetic resonance imaging, MRI) may also be done to check whether the malignancy has metastasized (spread) to the liver, which is a common site for metastasis of carcinoid lung tumors.
Biopsy
Your healthcare providers will need a tissue sample to confirm your diagnosis and determine the stage of your carcinoid lung tumor.
There are two main types of biopsies for evaluating carcinoid lung cancer:
Lung Biopsy Types: What to Expect
Blood Tests
Blood tests may detect hormones secreted from some carcinoid tumors.
Another test, theKi67 proliferation index, can sometimes help distinguish carcinoids from other types of lung cancer, as well as predict which carcinoid tumors may respond to chemotherapy (most do not).
Staging
Unlike more common lung cancers, staging tests are not always needed with carcinoid tumors since they grow slowly and are unlikely to spread. Since most carcinoid tumors are slow-growing and have low metabolic activity, they are unlikely to show up as malignant on a PET scan.
Since carcinoid tumors can differ from each other, the treatment options vary. At the early stage of the disease, surgery is usually considered the best treatment. Several medications are currently approved for treatment of advanced carcinoid tumors.
Surgery
The type of lung cancer surgery you may need depends on how large the tumors are and where they are located in your lung.
For small tumors, alobectomyor even awedge resectionmay be considered. For larger tumors (or those in certain locations), removal of an entire lung (pneumonectomy) may be recommended.
Biological Therapy
The biological therapy drug Afinitor (everolimus) is recommended for advanced typical and atypical carcinoids that do not secrete hormones or hormone-like substances.
Somatostatin Analogues
The drugs Sandostatin (octreotide), Somatuline (lanreotide), and Signifor (pasireotide) are somatostatin analogs and are used for treating low-grade carcinoid tumors that secrete hormone-like substances. They can control tumor growth and reduce symptoms but are not curative.
You might want to consider enrolling in a clinical trial so you can have access to emerging treatments for your carcinoid tumor.
When carcinoid tumors can be removed surgically, the prognosis is relatively good. With advanced disease, the approval of Afinitor has increased survival, and other treatments are being examined as well.
The five-year survival rate for loco-regional stages of lung carcinoid tumor is approximately 90%.If the cancer is diagnosed in the earliest stages, the five-year survival rate increases to 97%.
Carcinoid tumors associated with the genetic syndrome MEN1 tend to be more aggressive and have lower survival rates.
Coping and Support
Since carcinoid tumors are relatively uncommon, it’s important that you find a healthcare provider who is familiar with the disease.
Some of the larger cancer centers, such as theNational Cancer Institute-designated centers, are often more likely to haveoncologistson staff who have treated a number of other people with these cancers. These larger centers are also more likely to offer you the opportunity to be part of a clinical trial or to receive a newer treatment for advanced carcinoids.
TheCarcinoid Cancer Foundationis a non-profit organization committed to supporting people with carcinoid tumors. It can be a resource to help you find a support group or contacts who can answer questions and encourage you as you look for answers and begin treatment.
Tips for Choosing a Lung Cancer Treatment Center
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Cancer Society.Key statistics for lung carcinoid tumors.
Cleveland Clinic.What is a lung carcinoid tumor?.
American Cancer Society.What are lung carcinoid tumors?.
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of lung carcinoid tumors.
Krug S, Boch M, Rexin P, et al. Acromegaly in a patient with a pulmonary neuroendocrine tumor: case report and review of current literature.BMC Res Notes. 2016;9:326. doi:10.1186%2Fs13104-016-2132-1
American Cancer Society.Tests for lung cancer carcinoid tumors.
Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School.Carcinoid Tumors of the Lung.
American Cancer Society.Other Drug Treatments for Lung Carcinoid Tumors.
American Cancer Society.Survival Rates for Lung Carcinoid Tumors.
Bast, R., Croce, C., Hait, W. et al.Holland-Frei Cancer Medicine. Wiley Blackwell.Fazio, N., Ungaro, A., Spada, E.The Role of Multimodal Treatment in Patients with Advanced Lung Neuroendocrine Tumors.Journal of Thoracic Disease.2017. 9(Suppl 15):S1501-S1510. doi:10.21037/jtd.2017.06.14Melosky, B.Advanced Typical and Atypical Carcinoid Tumors of the Lung: Management Recommendations.Current Oncology.2018. 25:86. doi:10.3747/co.25.3808
Bast, R., Croce, C., Hait, W. et al.Holland-Frei Cancer Medicine. Wiley Blackwell.
Fazio, N., Ungaro, A., Spada, E.The Role of Multimodal Treatment in Patients with Advanced Lung Neuroendocrine Tumors.Journal of Thoracic Disease.2017. 9(Suppl 15):S1501-S1510. doi:10.21037/jtd.2017.06.14
Melosky, B.Advanced Typical and Atypical Carcinoid Tumors of the Lung: Management Recommendations.Current Oncology.2018. 25:86. doi:10.3747/co.25.3808
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