Excessive Muscle Paralysis Due to Pulmonary Carcinoid –-A Case Report

Abstract

We present the case of a 58-year-old woman with a renin secreting typical bronchopulmonary carcinoid. This patient showed hypotension, constipation and fatigue due to extensive hypokaliemia (K = 1.9 meq/L). Aldosterone (102.7 ng/100 mL) and renin (46 ng/mL) were excessively elevated at that time, but cortisol level was normal. Routine chest roentgenography and computed tomography revealed a nodular lesion in the upper left lung lobe, which was suspicious for a neurosecretory pulmonary tumor. The final diagnosis was made by using bronchoscopic procedures and the histologically diagnosis was compatible as a typical pulmonary carcinoid. The tumor was resected curatively, and the renin and aldosterone level became normal. A year after the patient looks healthy.