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Carcinoid Prognosis

Carcinoid tumors originate in the neuroendocrine system. Prognosis depends on the location of the tumors and whether they have metastasized, or spread to other areas.

  1. Small Undiagnosed Tumors

    • According to Dr. Richard Warner, about 1 in 100 people have small, insignificant carcinoid tumors. These tumors are usually benign and cause no symptoms. Prognosis for a normal lifespan is excellent.

    Removable Tumors

    • If carcinoid tumors haven't spread beyond local tissue and can be surgically removed, average survival time after diagnosis is eight to 23 years.

    Small IntestineTumors

    • In cases where small intestine tumors can't be completely removed, a five-year survival prognosis is 50 percent.

    Other Gastrointestinal Tumors

    • Stomach tumors are often small and rarely fatal, although if they become larger, they may metastasize in half of the cases. Tumors of the appendix are generally benign; the five-year survival rate is 87 percent. Rectal tumors have a 72 percent five-year survival rate, unless metastasis has already occurred at the time of diagnosis, which lowers the five-year survival rate to 27 percent.

    Carcinoid Syndrome

    • Patients who develop carcinoid syndrome, characterized by lung, heart and gastrointestinal complications, survive 12 years on average with active treatment.

    Lung Tumors

    • Carcinoid lung tumors have a five-year survival rate of 85 to 90 percent. Atypical carcinoid tumors, which are more malignant than typical carcinoid tumors, drop five-year survival rates to 50 to 60 percent.

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