# Synchronous Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma and Carcinoid Tumor Diagnosed via a Single-Session Robotic Bronchoscopy: A Case Report

**Authors:** Joshua Wortsman, Syed M Naqvi, Dean-Yar Tigrani, Sushant Nanavati, Hasnain Bawaadam

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.94044 · Cureus · 2025-10-07

## TL;DR

A rare case of two different lung cancers diagnosed in one procedure highlights the importance of advanced bronchoscopy and shared origins of tumors.

## Contribution

Demonstrates the diagnostic value of single-session robotic bronchoscopy for synchronous lung tumors and suggests a common progenitor cell origin.

## Key findings

- An 82-year-old woman had both pulmonary adenocarcinoma and carcinoid tumor diagnosed in separate lobes during one bronchoscopy session.
- The case supports the use of robotic bronchoscopy for diagnosing multifocal lung lesions.
- Molecular evidence suggests adenocarcinoma and carcinoid tumors may share a common progenitor cell.

## Abstract

Synchronous multiple primary lung cancers (SMPLCs) are uncommon, particularly when they consist of histologically distinct tumors, such as adenocarcinoma and carcinoid. Differentiating SMPLCs from intrapulmonary metastases is critical because treatment approaches and prognostic implications vary substantially.

We describe the case of an 82-year-old woman who was found to have both pulmonary adenocarcinoma and a typical carcinoid tumor in separate lobes, diagnosed during a single robotic-assisted bronchoscopy session. This case underscores the importance of considering SMPLCs in patients with multifocal pulmonary lesions, highlights the diagnostic utility of advanced bronchoscopic platforms that enable sampling of multiple sites in a single procedure, and points to emerging molecular evidence suggesting that adenocarcinoma and carcinoid tumors may share a common progenitor cell origin.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** adenocarcinoma (MONDO:0004970), carcinoid tumor (MONDO:0005369)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** tumors (MESH:D009369), metastases (MESH:D009362), Carcinoid Tumor (MESH:D002276), pulmonary lesions (MESH:D008171), Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma and (MESH:D000230), SMPLCs (MESH:D008175)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

3 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12591284/full.md

## References

12 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12591284/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12591284