Sleeve resections and bronchoplastic procedures in typical central carcinoid tumours

BACKGROUND: Typical carcinoids are low grade malignant neuroendocrine neoplasms, mostly located centrally in the tracheobronchial tree. The aim of our study was to analyse the long-term survival and surgical treatment outcome in patients submitted to parenchyma-sparing resections for typical central carcinoid tumours. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 70 patients who underwent sleeve resections or bronchoplastic procedures. We performed 21 sleeve lobectomies, 9 sleeve resections of the main bronchus, 25 bronchoplasties associated with lung resections and 15 isolated wedge bronchoplasties. Nine patients (12.8%) had nodal metastases. RESULTS: There was no operative mortality; postoperative complications occurred in one patient (1.4%) who presented an empyema. At long-term follow-up evaluation, we were able to report good results: all patients were alive and nobody manifested recurrence; one patient had a late cicatricial bronchial stenosis, which was treated with laser therapy. CONCLUSIONS: This series of central typical bronchial carcinoids, treated with sleeve or bronchoplastic resection, demonstrated an excellent outcome. Our results suggest that, in experienced and skilled hands, conservative procedures must be considered the treatment of choice for the management of these tumours