Carcinoid

Not to be confused with Chancroid.
Carcinoid is sometimes a type of carcinoma but is more often benign.
Carcinoid
Picture of a carcinoid tumor (center of image) that encroaches into the lumen of the small bowel (pathology specimen). The prominent folds are plicae circulares, a characteristic of the small bowel.
SpecialtyOncology

A carcinoid (also carcinoid tumor) is a slow-growing[1] type of neuroendocrine tumor originating in the cells of the neuroendocrine system. In some cases, metastasis may occur. Carcinoid tumors of the midgut (jejunum, ileum, appendix, and cecum) are associated with carcinoid syndrome.

Sometimes, carcinoids cause paraneoplastic syndromes, which involve discharge of serotonin and other vasoactive substances from well-differentiated carcinoids.[2][3] A neuroendocrine paraneoplastic syndrome involves neoplastic secretion of functional peptides, hormones, cytokines, growth factors, and/or immune cross-reactivity between tumor tissues and normal host tissues, resulting in a syndrome of clinical signs and symptoms.[4]

Carcinoid tumors are the most common malignant tumor of the appendix, but they are most commonly associated with the small intestine, and they can also be found in the rectum and stomach. They are known to grow in the liver, but this finding is usually a manifestation of metastatic disease from a primary carcinoid occurring elsewhere in the body. They have a very slow growth rate compared to most malignant tumors. The median age at diagnosis for all patients with neuroendocrine tumors is 63 years.

  1. ^ Maroun J, Kocha W, Kvols L, et al. (April 2006). "Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of carcinoid tumors. Part 1: The gastrointestinal tract. A statement from a Canadian National Carcinoid Expert Group". Curr Oncol. 13 (2): 67–76. doi:10.3390/curroncol13020006. PMC 1891174. PMID 17576444.
  2. ^ Gade, Ajay K.; Olariu, Eva; Douthit, Nathan T.; Gade, Ajay K.; Olariu, Eva; Douthit, Nathan T. (2020-03-05). "Carcinoid Syndrome: A Review". Cureus. 12 (3): e7186. doi:10.7759/cureus.7186. ISSN 2168-8184. PMC 7124884. PMID 32257725.
  3. ^ Tsoli, Marina; Dimitriadis, Georgios K.; Androulakis, Ioannis I.; Kaltsas, Gregory; Grossman, Ashley (2000). Feingold, Kenneth R.; Anawalt, Bradley; Blackman, Marc R.; Boyce, Alison (eds.). Paraneoplastic Syndromes Related to Neuroendocrine Tumors. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc. PMID 25905358. Retrieved 2023-02-19. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  4. ^ Guilmette, Julie; Nosé, Vânia (2019-07-01). "Paraneoplastic syndromes and other systemic disorders associated with neuroendocrine neoplasms". Seminars in Diagnostic Pathology. 36 (4): 229–239. doi:10.1053/j.semdp.2019.03.002. ISSN 0740-2570. PMID 30910348. S2CID 85514650.