Pulmonary carcinoid tumour
Pulmonary Carcinoid Tumour
Pulmonary carcinoid tumour (pronunciation: pul-mon-ary car-ci-noid too-mor) is a rare type of cancer that originates in the lung cells. The term 'pulmonary' is derived from the Latin word 'pulmo', which means lung, and 'carcinoid' is derived from the Greek word 'karkinos', meaning crab, a metaphor for cancer's claw-like spreading growth.
Definition
A pulmonary carcinoid tumour is a type of neuroendocrine tumour that begins in the lungs. It is a slow-growing tumour that forms in the cells lining the lungs' bronchi (airways). These tumours are part of a larger group of tumours called carcinoids, which can occur in several other parts of the body.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of a pulmonary carcinoid tumour include cough, hemoptysis (coughing up blood), shortness of breath, and recurrent pneumonia. However, many people with this type of tumour do not have any symptoms until the disease is advanced.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of a pulmonary carcinoid tumour often involves a combination of medical history, physical examination, imaging tests, and biopsy. Imaging tests may include a chest X-ray, CT scan, or MRI. A biopsy, where a small sample of tissue is removed for examination under a microscope, is the only sure way to diagnose a pulmonary carcinoid tumour.
Treatment
Treatment for a pulmonary carcinoid tumour depends on the size and location of the tumour, whether it has spread, and the patient's overall health. Treatment options may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these treatments.
Prognosis
The prognosis for a pulmonary carcinoid tumour varies depending on the stage of the disease at diagnosis, the patient's overall health, and the effectiveness of treatment. In general, the prognosis is better for tumours that are found early and can be completely removed by surgery.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Pulmonary carcinoid tumour
- Wikipedia's article - Pulmonary carcinoid tumour
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