Broncholithiasis mimicking a bronchial carcinoid tumour

A 29-year-old woman was transferred to our unit with a diagnosis of bronchial carcinoid tumour. She complained of chest pain, dyspnoea, cough and haemoptysis. She smoked 20 cigarettes per day and denied any history of tuberculosis, histoplamosis or occupational exposure and her family history was strongly positive for cancer. She had undergone a contrast-enhanced CT scan of the chest in the endocrinology unit which showed a partially calcified mass in the left hilum (fig 1A, arrow). Further pulmonary scintigraphy with …