Bronchial carcinoid- An unusual cause of hemoptysis in a young woman

Bronchial neuroendocrine tumors(NET) are slow growing rare pulmonary tumors arising from neuroendocrine cells. Bronchial NETs account for 1 to 2 percent of all lung malignancies in adults. These tumors are usually sporadic, although 10 percent have features suggesting hereditary origin either multiplicity or association with MEN I. Well differentiated NETs are also known as carcinoid tumors which includes low and intermediate grade groups. Poorly differentiated NETs are high grade tumors which include small cell carcinoma and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. Here we present a 32 year old female patient with no comorbid illness who came with complaints of hemoptysis. Subsequent evaluation revealed intrabronchial carcinoid as the cause of hemoptysis. Thus in young patients with no known risk factors, presenting with hemoptysis, bronchial carcinoid should be considered in the differential diagnosis.