Tumores carcinoides pulmonares: análisis de las características endocrino-oncológicas en una institución privada de Argentina

Abstract

Pulmonary carcinoids (PC) show variable clinical behavior and an increasing incidence. A small proportion of PCs may be functioning. In Latin America, data on these lesions remain limited. Objective: to describe the clinical and pathological characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of patients with PC treated at a single center in Argentina, highlighting functioning tumors associated with ectopic Cushing syndrome (SCE). Materials and methods: a retrospective observational study was conducted including patients diagnosed with PC treated between 2001 and 2025 at Hospital Privado de Comunidad. Demographic variables, tumor characteristics, treatment, recurrence, and overall survival were analyzed.  Results: twenty-three patients were included: 16 (70%) typical carcinoids, and 7 (30%) atypical carcinoids. Median age was 58 years, with a predominance of females (57%), and diagnosis was incidental in 39% of cases. Lymph node involvement at diagnosis was observed in 26% of PCs. All patients with tumor recurrence (14%) had positive lymph nodes at baseline. Five-year overall survival was 79.6%. Two patients (9%) presented ECS due to ACTH secretion and achieved resolution of hypercortisolism after surgery. Conclusions: this singlecenter series provides local evidence on the endocrine–oncologic characteristics of PCs in Argentina, showing their clinical heterogeneity and the occasional association with ECS.