hamartomas are slow growing tumors with fat and cartilage

Carcinoid tumors can present as a solitary solid, rounded mass in an otherwise healthy younger individual. Typical carcinoids are well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors that behave indolently, growing slowly, usually without regional spread. Typical carcinoids are composed of bland polygonal-shaped cells with round to oval nuclei arranged in distinct growth patterns (organoid, trabecular, or insular) with few mitotic figures (<2 per 10 high-powered fields) (Figure 4). Up to 80% of typical carcinoids express somatostatin receptors and thus may be seen on imaging using somatostatin receptor scintigraphy. The clinical utility of this imaging test is less clear when the disease appears localized. The pathology shown is not in keeping with a carcinoid tumor (choice A is incorrect).

  • Figure 4. H&E stain, ×40 magnification.