Habib Mantilla Gaviria, Willfredy Castano Ruiz
Background: Multifocal neuroendocrine tumors of the lung are rare, usually having low nodal involvement in early stages. We bring to the literature a case of a typical multifocal carcinoid associated to tumors with Intra-Pulmonary Lymph Node (IPLN) involvement.
Case presentation: 59-year-old female asymptomatic patient with multiple nodules in the right lower lobe, PET-CT with hypermetabolic nodule, adequate pulmonary function, for which a right lower lobectomy was performed plus intrapulmonary lymph nodes dissection in the fresh surgical specimen. The lymph nodes of stations 11, 12, 13 and 14 were sent to pathology. The pathology laboratory report showed that stations 10, 11, 12 and 13 were negative, but station 14 was positive. Thus, changing the stage from Ia2 to IIb.
Conclusion: This patient had an upstaging because of IPLN were positive for metastasis. The search for a more accurate oncologic staging through intrapulmonary lymph node may allow a more accurate staging and therefore a better treatment for the patient regardless type histology.