Clinical experiences in carcinoid tumors

Background/Aim: Carcinoid tumors belong to the family of neuroendocrine tumors, which derive from the neuroendocrine cell system. These tumors are rather rare, with age-adjusted incidence rates for all types of carcinoids of 1–2/100,000 population per year. Authors briefly review the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures applied for carcinoid tumors, and report their 7 cases. Patients: 5 females, 2 males, mean age 50 years, range 25–61 years have been investigated. Three patients have carcinoid tumor in the liver, 2 in the pancreas and 2 in the intestine, respectively. Methods: Abdominal ultrasound and CT, octreoscan, targeted liver- or pancreas biopsy, urinary 5-OH-indol-acetic acid and serum neuron-specific enolase measurements have been applied for the diagnosis. Surgical liver-, pancreas- or small bowel resection, art. hepatica superselective angiography and cytostatic infusion (mitomycin, farmorubicin, carboplatin) as well as long-term Sandostatin (octreotid) administration have been used for the treatment. Results and conclusion: the multimodal approach resulted in sustained remission in 6 out of 7 patients, suggesting the efficacy of such type of therapy in carcinoid tumors.