How to Test for Carcinoid Tumors

Carcinoid tumors are cancerous growths that usually appear on the lungs or in the gastrointestinal tract, according to the Mayo Clinic. The cancer grows slowly and may not produce symptoms for some time. When symptoms appear, they may be generalized enough so that finding the problem is difficult. A series of blood, urine and imaging tests can diagnose carcinoid tumors.

Things You'll Need

• Blood tests
• Urine tests
• Imaging tests
• Biopsy

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Instructions

• 1

  Undergo a physical exam to determine if your symptoms are consistent with carcinoid tumors. The American Cancer Society explains that tumors in the lungs can cause wheezing, chest pain, and coughing up bloody phlegm. Carcinoid tumors located in the digestive tract may produce symptoms such as stomach pain, intestinal bleeding and anemia.

• 2

  Give blood samples to test for substances that may indicate a carcinoid tumor. Carcinoid tumors sometimes release chemicals into the blood that produce symptoms such as skin flushing and diarrhea. The cancer can also make a hormone called ACTH that prompts your body to overproduce another hormone called cortisol. Blood tests can measure these hormone levels and help diagnose carcinoid tumors.

• 3

  Participate in a 24-hour urine collection test to measure the level of 5-HIAA in your body. Everyone has a little bit of 5-HIAA, but people who have carcinoid tumors often produce a large quantity of the chemical, reports the American Association for Clinical Chemistry.

• 4

  Discuss imaging tests that can diagnose carcinoid tumors with your doctor. He may take chest X-rays, or perform other procedures such as a CT scan, MRI or endoscopy to see if there are carcinoid growths on your lungs, in your stomach lining or other areas in your body.

• 5

  Undergo a biopsy to confirm a suspected diagnosis of carcinoid tumors. After performing other diagnostic testing, your doctor will take a small tissue sample to test for cancer.