Published online Sep 7, 2023. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v29.i33.5014
Peer-review started: May 13, 2023
First decision: May 30, 2023
Revised: July 3, 2023
Accepted: July 17, 2023
Article in press: July 17, 2023
Published online: September 7, 2023
Processing time: 110 Days and 22.6 Hours
Pulmonary carcinoids are rare, low-grade malignant tumors characterized by neuroendocrine differentiation and relatively indolent clinical behavior. Most cases present as a slow-growing polypoidal mass in the major bronchi leading to hemoptysis and pulmonary infection due to blockage of the distal bronchi. Carcinoid syndrome is a paraneoplastic syndrome caused by the systemic release of vasoactive substances that presents in 5% of patients with neuroendocrine tumors. Due to such nonspecific presentation, most patients are misdiagnosed or diagnosed late and may receive several courses of antibiotics to treat recurrent pneumonia before the tumor is diagnosed.
We report the case of a 48-year-old male who presented with cough, dyspnea, a history of recurrent pneumonitis, and therapy-refractory ulcerative colitis that completely subsided after the resection of a pulmonary carcinoid.
We report and emphasize pulmonary carcinoid as a differential diagnosis in patients with nonresponding inflammatory bowel diseases and recurrent pneumonia.
Core Tip: Pulmonary carcinoids are rare neuroendocrine tumors that may cause a paraneoplastic syndrome. We report the case of a 48-year-old man with a history of recurrent pneumonitis and therapy-refractory ulcerative colitis that was completely resolved after resection of a pulmonary carcinoid. Pulmonary carcinoid should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with unresponsive inflammatory bowel disease and recurrent pneumonia.