BRONCHIAL CARCINOID-TUMORS - IMPORTANCE OF PROGNOSTIC FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE PATTERNS OF RECURRENCE AND OVERALL SURVIVAL

PURPOSE: To analyze bronchial carcinoid characteristics that might inf luence patterns of disease recurrence and overall survival in patients with these tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a retrospective review, the actuarial rates of local relapse, regional relapse,and overall sur vival were determined in patients who had undergone resection of bronc hial carcinoid tumors. The evaluable files for 87 patients (50 male, 3 7 female; age range, 15-82 years) who underwent resection of bronchial carcinoid cancer at the authors' institution between 1980 and 1993 we re reviewed for pathologic findings, extent of disease, and recurrence patterns after surgery. RESULTS: The actuarial 4-year overall surviva l, local control and regional control rates in the entire cohort of pa tients were 89%, 92%, and 94%, respectively. Univariate analyses revea led that an atypical histologic pattern was the only tumor-related fac tor that substantially affected local and regional control. Atypical h istologic pattern and tumor size were among the multiple factors that independently affected overall survival. CONCLUSION: Atypical histolog ic findings in patients who had undergone complete resection of bronch ial carcinoid tumors were associated with increased local-regional dis ease recurrence and decreased survival compared with recurrence and su rvival in patients with typical-histologic findings.