Paediatric tracheal carcinoid with carinal involvement and nodal metastasis: challenging airway reconstruction with oncological clearance.

Tracheal carcinoid tumours are exceptionally rare neuroendocrine neoplasms, particularly in the paediatric population. We present the case of a teenage girl with longstanding dyspnoea and intermittent haemoptysis, ultimately diagnosed with a typical carcinoid involving the distal trachea and both main bronchi. Bronchoscopy biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. She underwent tracheal resection and complex carinal reconstruction with cardiopulmonary bypass. Histopathology revealed a grade 1 typical carcinoid with metastatic involvement in two of five subcarinal lymph nodes. Postoperative recovery was smooth, and she remains disease-free on follow-up. This case underscores the need to consider rare airway tumours in persistent respiratory symptoms, the potential for nodal spread in otherwise low-grade lesions and the curative potential of meticulous surgical intervention.