Huge carcinoid tumour causing complete obstruction of the left main bronchus and destruction of left lung

Carcinoid tumours arise from the neuroendocrine cells of the bronchial epithelium known as kulchitsky cells and comprise 4% of all lung malignancies. we report a case of a 16-year-old male who presented with a 1-month history of fever,cough,left-side chest pain and shortness of breath. chest x -ray showed loss of lung volume on the left side with cystic spaces and air fluid levels. computed tomography scan chest demonstrated a homogenous mass extending into the left main bronchus causing its complete obstruction along with extensive bronchiectatic changes in the left lung. bronchoscopy and bronchial biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of typical carcinoid tumour. a pneumonectomy was performed. this case is unusual due to the large size of the tumour,its location and associated destruction of the entire left lung. © 2015,pakistan medical association. all rights reserved.