Ectopic ACTH syndrome due to thymic atypical carcinoid treated with combination chemotherapy of cisplatin and etoposide.

A 21-year-old woman with Cushing's syndrome presented with a mediastinal tumor. Ectopic ACTH syndrome was diagnosed and the tumor was resected. The histopathological diagnosis was thymic atypical carcinoid. Despite all tumor lesions having been resected, the tumor relapsed and multiple metastatic lesions grew aggressively. Combination chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide (VP16) was administered to control tumor progression, and achieved marked therapeutic effects. Maintenance chemotherapy with carboplatin and VP16 achieved long-term tumor control. This case indicates that some patients with atypical carcinoid tumor are good responders to chemotherapy with platinum agents and VP16.