Los tumorlets pulmonares son pequeños agregados de células neuroendocrinas derivadas de las células de Kulchitsky del epitelio bronquial. Generalmente su hallazgo suele ser casual. Se les considera como lesiones benignas que raramente metastatizan. Presentamos 5 casos de tumorlet diagnosticados de forma casual, en pacientes con patología pulmonar previa que obligó a un estudio histológico del pulmón.
A pesar de tener un comportamiento benigno, conviene realizar un seguimiento evolutivo de los pacientes mediante controles radiológicos ya que, aunque sea excepcional, se han descrito casos de metástasis en los ganglios linfáticos regionales.
Lung tumorlets are small collections of neuroendocrine cells derived from Kulchitsky cells of the bronchial epithelium. Such cells are usually found by chance, are considered benign and rarely metastasize. We describe 5 cases of tumorlets diagnosed by chance in patients with prior lung disease requiring histology.
Even though the behavior of tumorlets is benign, patients in whom they have been found should receive follow-up X-rays, as lymphatic metastasis in the region has occasionally been described.
