Carcinoid syndrome - Symptoms, Causes, Images, and Treatment Options

Diseases

Highlights & Basics

Key Highlights

Carcinoid syndrome commonly presents with flushing and diarrhea. Other clinical features include wheeze, palpitations, telangiectasia, and abdominal pain.
Symptoms develop due to secretion of serotonin, kinins, and other biogenic amines from functional secretory neuroendocrine tumors.
Diagnosed by elevated levels of urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. Chromogranin A is often elevated in the presence of liver metastases.
Treatments include medical therapies (somatostatin analogs, radionuclide therapies) and surgical options (resection of primary and secondary tumors).
Complications include carcinoid heart disease and carcinoid crisis at times of stress (e.g., during surgery).

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Definition

Epidemiology

Etiology

Pathophysiology

Images

Iodine I-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) uptake image showing multiple metastases
CT scan showing multiple liver metastases
Octreotide planar image showing uptake in the liver from tumor

Citations

Key Articles

National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology: neuroendocrine and adrenal tumors [internet publication].[Full Text]
Singh S, Asa SL, Dey C, et al. Diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors: an evidence-based Canadian consensus. Cancer Treat Rev. 2016 Jun;47:32-45.[Abstract][Full Text]
Riechelmann RP, Pereira AA, Rego JF, et al. Refractory carcinoid syndrome: a review of treatment options. Ther Adv Med Oncol. 2017 Feb;9(2):127-37.[Abstract][Full Text]
Hofland J, Herrera-Martínez AD, Zandee WT, et al. Management of carcinoid syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Endocr Relat Cancer. 2019 Mar;26(3):R145-56.[Abstract][Full Text]

Referenced Articles

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