Metastatic atypical lung carcinoid treated with combined therapeutic modalities

Abstract

Introduction. Lung carcinoids are considered a rare and uncommon group of lung tumors, making about 1% of all primary lung tumors. Atypical carcinoids are more aggressive than typical ones, with higher metastatic potential and worse prognosis and a 10-year survival rate of less than 60%. Case outline. In 2012, a 61-year-old male underwent the right lower lobectomy and the histopathological finding was an atypical lung carcinoid tumor. At the beginning of 2016, radiological and bronchoscopic progression of the disease was reported. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed enhanced nodular lesions compatible with liver metastases. The patient received endoluminal brachytherapy. Subsequently, the first line chemotherapy according to the cisplatin/etoposide (PE) protocol was applied. In August 2016, the somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) revealed secondary deposits with somatostatin receptor (SR) expression in the liver and lungs. The treatment with lanreotide injections was initiated. After five treatment courses, progression of the disease in the bronchial tree was verified and electro-cauterization and argon plasma cauterization of the tumor in the right main bronchus were performed. In September 2017, progression of the disease was verified again. The Oncology Board introduced the third line therapy with everolimus. Conclusion. The evidence supporting optimal treatment strategies for an atypical lung carcinoid tumor is lacking, but some recent publications indicate that multimodal treatment is associated with prolonged survival.

Keywords

• lung
• atypical carcinoid
• somatostatin receptor
• brachytherapy
• everolimus