Page 29 - Essentia Vol 5 Issue 1

VOL V | ISSUE I | 5 AUGUST 2026 VOL V | ISSUE I | 5 AUGUST 2026
A BIANNUAL NEWSLETTER OF ASSAM CANCER CARE FOUNDATION A BIANNUAL NEWSLETTER OF ASSAM CANCER CARE FOUNDATION

Case 4: Carcinoid tumour of the lung —
the wolf in sheep’s clothing
The term carcinoid was coined for tumours that
appeared carcinoma-like but were believed to
behave less aggressively. Despite their bland
morphology, pulmonary carcinoids are true
neuroendocrine neoplasms with metastatic
potential, so recognising their characteristic Low-power view High-Power view: Classical ‘salt-
morphology and neuroendocrine markers and-pepper’ chromatin
is essential. A 36-year-old man presented
with a right hilar mass initially suspected to be
small cell carcinoma on cytology. Core biopsy
showed organoid nests, trabeculae, rosettes
and a pseudoglandular pattern of uniform cells
with classic “salt-and-pepper” chromatin,
inconspicuous nucleoli and pale eosinophilic
cytoplasm, with no mitotic activity or necrosis. Synaptophysin and chromogranin positivity
Tumour cells were positive for PanCK, TTF1,
synaptophysin and chromogranin-A, with Ki- abounds with memorable terminology. These
67 under 1%. Lobectomy confirmed a typical names are more than curiosities: they are
carcinoid, Grade 1. educational tools that encapsulate morphology,
biology and history. Each carries a story, a
Beyond the names reminder that pathology is not only the science of
From sugar icing to star-filled skies, and Greek disease but also the art of pattern recognition and
mythology to deceptive mimicry, oncopathology discovery.

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