Interní Med. 2010; 12(2): 104-108

Carcinoid - Neuroendocrine tumor with many symptoms, less frequent cause of diarhoe

MUDr.Dagmar Jackuliaková¹, doc.MUDr.Zdeněk Fryšák, CSc.¹, MUDr.Ladislav Faltýnek, CSc.¹, MUDr.Tomáš Tichý², prof.MUDr.Vlastimil Ščudla, CSc.¹

¹ III. interní klinika FN Olomouc

² Ústav patologie FN Olomouc

Carcinoid is a tumor originated in cells of neuroendocrine system and representing more than 50 % of neuroendocrine tumors. There are

different carcinoid forms – tumors of undetermined significance, but also metastatic tumors with different degree of dedifferentiation.

The tumor affects gastrointestinal system including pancreas, pulmonary system, ovary and thyroid gland. It is often asymptomatic for

long time or it can produce symptoms given by its localisation. The typical carcinoid syndrome caused by serotonine hypersecretion is

found just in 10 % of patients (up to 40 % patients with intestinal carcinoid). Typical symptoms are flush, diarrhoea, dyspnoe attacks, and

carcinoid heart disease in about 30 % of cases, too. Desmoplastic effect of serotonine is responsible for development of retroperitoneal

fibrosis, but also local peritoneal adhesions, which can caused ileus or hydronephrosis. The diagnosis is based on serum chromogranin

A measurement, 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid 24 hour output in urine and characteristic histology and immunohistologic examination.

Radical surgery is curative for localised carcinoids. There is a possibility to use tumor mass debulking surgery in metastatic form of disease.

Somatostatine analogues, interferon alfa, chemotherapy, and radionuclids linked to peptide-receptors are contemporary ways

of treatment.

Keywords: carcinoid, carcinoid syndrome

Published: May 1, 2010  Show citation