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What Are Neuroendocrine Carcinoid Tumors?

Neuroendocrine carcinoid tumors are cancers that grow from cells in the neuroendocrine system. Most carcinoid tumors originate in the gastrointestinal tract. Carcinoid tumors that cause symptoms are rare.

  1. Origination

    • Carcinoid tumors originate in the small intestine, appendix, stomach, pancreas, large intestine and lungs. Rarely, carcinoid tumors originate in reproductive organs.

    Risk Factors

    • Family history of multiple endocrine neoplasms (MEN-1) increases the risk of developing carcinoid tumors, as does history of disease that increases stomach acid production.

    Symptoms

    • Carcinoid tumors don’t cause symptoms until they grow very large or spread to other areas. Symptoms include abdominal or rectal pain, rectal bleeding, diarrhea or shortness of breath.

    Complications

    • Carcinoid Syndrome occurs when carcinoid tumors release hormones, causing flushing, wheezing, diarrhea and blood pressure changes. Carcinoid tumors frequently spread, or metastasize to the liver, lungs or further sites, and can damage the heart and cause stomach ulcers.

    Treatment

    • Treatments include surgical removal of the tumors, if caught early. Chemotherapy and medications that reduce hormone output of the tumors may be used. Liver carcinoids may be treated with embolization, which cuts off blood supply, or ablation, which kills cancer cells.

    Prognosis

    • Many people with carcinoid tumors live a normal lifespan, because the tumors grow so slowly. According to Dr. Richard Warner, up to half of all patients with tumors that have spread too much to be removed are still alive 5 years later.

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