Unusual Cause of Wheezing in a Middle-Aged Woman: A Case Report

TL;DR

A middle-aged woman with wheezing and pneumonia was diagnosed with a rare lung tumor and successfully treated with surgery.

Contribution

This case report adds to the limited literature on endobronchial carcinoid tumors and their management.

Findings

A 56-year-old woman presented with wheezing, cough, and pneumonia due to an endobronchial carcinoid tumor.

Surgical resection of the affected lung lobe led to no recurrence in follow-up evaluations.

The case emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary approaches in managing such rare tumors.

Abstract

Endobronchial carcinoid tumors, a subset of neuroendocrine tumors, represent a rare but significant entity within pulmonary neoplasms, constituting less than 2% of all lung cancers. Our case report details the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of a 56-year-old female patient who presented with intermittent wheezing, mucoid cough, and recurrent pneumonia. Initial imaging and bronchoscopy identified an obstructive mass in the left lower bronchus. Histopathological examination of the bronchoscopic biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of a typical endobronchial carcinoid tumor. The patient underwent a successful left lower lobe lobectomy of the lung through left thoracotomy with regional and mediastinal lymph node dissection. Follow-up evaluations demonstrated no recurrence post-treatment. This case highlights the clinical features, diagnostic challenges, and therapeutic strategies associated with endobronchial carcinoid tumors, emphasizing the efficacy of a multidisciplinary approach in achieving favorable outcomes.

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