Introduction
-Carcinoid tumor is a type of neuroendocrine tumor that grows from neuroendocrine cells
-They can arise in several organs throughout the body, most commonly in the digestive tract (appendix, ileum, rectum etc) or in the lungs
Symptoms & Signs
Some carcinoid tumors do not cause any symptoms and signs
Classic triad: Cutaneous flushing, diarrhea and valvular heart disease
Carcinoid tumors in the GI: Nausea, vomiting, rectal pain, rectal bleeding, bowel obstruction, skin flushing, diarrhea, abdominal pain
Carcinoid tumors in lungs: cough, hemoptysis, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain, diarrhea, skin flushing
Cardiac involvement: tricuspid regurgitation and pulmonary stenosis
Diagnosis
Imaging tests: CT, MRI, PET, nuclear scans, Octreotide scintigraphy
Labs: production of >15 mg/d of the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the urine.
Treatment
Surgery, medications (octreotide), chemotherapy (5FU plus streptozocin or doxorubicin), radiation