Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFactsTypesSymptomsComplicationsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Facts
Types
Symptoms
Complications
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Coping
Carcinoidtumors, also calledneuroendocrine tumors(NETs), are cancerous tumors that grow from theneuroendocrinecells, which are found in organs throughout the body and send and receive messages through hormones.
Carcinoid tumorstypically grow slowly and may not show symptoms for many years. In adults, these tumors are usually found in the digestive tract but may spread to other parts of the body. In children and young adults, they occur most frequently in the appendix or in the lungs and are less likely to spread than tumors in adults.
Read on to learn more about carcinoid tumors.
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Facts About Carcinoid Cancer
Some things to know about carcinoid tumors include:
Key Statistics About Carcinoid CancerFortunately, carcinoid cancer is quite rare. Some statistics include:Carcinoid tumors affect approximately 1 in 25,000 adults.Carcinoid tumors are so rare in children and young adults that there is a lack of data to determine accurate statistics.The average age of diagnosis of digestive orlungcarcinoid tumors is around age 60, but tumors are often present earlier.
Key Statistics About Carcinoid Cancer
Fortunately, carcinoid cancer is quite rare. Some statistics include:Carcinoid tumors affect approximately 1 in 25,000 adults.Carcinoid tumors are so rare in children and young adults that there is a lack of data to determine accurate statistics.The average age of diagnosis of digestive orlungcarcinoid tumors is around age 60, but tumors are often present earlier.
Fortunately, carcinoid cancer is quite rare. Some statistics include:
Types of Carcinoid Cancer
Locations
Carcinoid tumors most often form in the gastrointestinal (digestive) tract, but can occur anywhere in the body that hormone-producing cells exist.
Areas carcinoid tumors are usually found include:
Rarely, they may occur in the:
Carcinoid Cancer Symptoms
People with carcinoid cancer may or may not experience symptoms. Ifsymptoms are present, they depend on where in the body the tumor(s) is located and can vary.
Appendix:
Digestive Tract:
Duodenum (first part of the small intestine that connects to the stomach):
Jejunum (middle part of the small intestine) and Ileum (last part of the small intestine that connects to the colon):
Colon:
Rectum:
Lungs:
Rarely, complications from carcinoid tumors can arise.
Carcinoid Syndrome
Carcinoid syndromedevelops from tumors that produce hormones. It occurs in about 10% of people with a carcinoid tumor.
Symptoms of carcinoid syndrome include:
Carcinoid Heart Disease
Carcinoid heart disease (CHD) can occur in cases of advanced carcinoid tumors and carcinoid syndrome. CHD can lead toheart failure, but early recognition and surgical intervention may improve outcomes if completed before heart failure occurs.
CHD treatment involves a multidisciplinary approach and includes specialists with a broad range of experience.
A heart valve replacement may be performed for some people with CHD.
Cushing Syndrome
Some carcinoid tumors produceadrenocorticotropichormone (ACTH). ACTH prompts the adrenal glands to produce too much of the steroid cortisol, which can result inCushing syndrome.
Symptoms of Cushing syndrome may include:
Risk Factors of Carcinoid CancerSome potential risk factors for carcinoid tumors include:Having (or having a family history of)multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) syndromeorneurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) syndromeHaving certain conditions that affect stomach acid production, such as atrophic gastritis, pernicious anemia, or Zollinger-Ellison syndromeSmokingBeing Black
Risk Factors of Carcinoid Cancer
Some potential risk factors for carcinoid tumors include:Having (or having a family history of)multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) syndromeorneurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) syndromeHaving certain conditions that affect stomach acid production, such as atrophic gastritis, pernicious anemia, or Zollinger-Ellison syndromeSmokingBeing Black
Some potential risk factors for carcinoid tumors include:
Thecause of carcinoid tumorsis unknown. Researchers are investigating if the gene MEN1 may play a role in carcinoid tumors.
Can Carcinoid Cancer Be Prevented?Carcinoid tumors can’t be prevented, butnot smokingmay lower your risk. Treating carcinoid tumors if they do arise may help prevent the symptoms of carcinoid syndrome.
Can Carcinoid Cancer Be Prevented?
Carcinoid tumors can’t be prevented, butnot smokingmay lower your risk. Treating carcinoid tumors if they do arise may help prevent the symptoms of carcinoid syndrome.
Carcinoid tumors that are small and do not cause symptoms are often found during an exam or surgery for another condition (such as appendix removal for appendicitis) rather than being evaluated specifically.
Tests that may be used in thediagnosis of a carcinoid tumorinclude:
Treating carcinoid tumorsdepends on a variety of factors, such as:
Surgery
Surgery is typically the first-choice treatment for carcinoid cancer, with the goal of removing the entire tumor, if possible, and debulking (removing as much as possible)metastases(spread of cancer cells).
The type of surgery used depends on the location of the tumor. Some types of surgeries include:
Radiation
Radiation therapyuses types of radiation, such as high-energy X-rays, to kill cancer cells or prevent them from growing.
Radiation therapy can be:
Medications
Medications that may be used to treat carcinoid cancer include:
Chemotherapy
Hormone Therapy
Xermelo (Telotriastat Ethyl) Tablets
Treatment for Metastases
Metastasis is when cancer cells spread from the primary tumor (where they began) to another part of the body via the lymph system or blood.
The metastatic tumor is the same type as the primary tumor. For instance, if a carcinoid tumor in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract spreads to the liver, the tumor cells in the liver are GI carcinoid tumor cells, and it is classified as metastatic GI carcinoid tumor instead of liver cancer.
Metastatic carcinoid cancer treatments may include:
If carcinoid cancer has spread to the liver, some treatments that may be used include:
Treatment for Carcinoid Syndrome
Treatments for carcinoid syndrome may include:
People with carcinoid syndrome may find it helpful to avoid things that may cause flushing or increasing breathing difficulty, such as:
Avoiding stressful situations and engaging in certain types of physical activity may also help with carcinoid syndrome.
The prognosis for carcinoid cancer depends on factors like:
It’s important to discuss your prognosis with your healthcare provider, as they will be able to look at your specific situation.
Some ways to help you manage while you go through treatment include:
ResourcesTheNational Cancer Instituteprovides information and resources for people living with cancer.TheCarcinoid Cancer Foundationoffers a checklist for those newly diagnosed with carcinoid cancer.
Resources
TheNational Cancer Instituteprovides information and resources for people living with cancer.TheCarcinoid Cancer Foundationoffers a checklist for those newly diagnosed with carcinoid cancer.
TheNational Cancer Instituteprovides information and resources for people living with cancer.
TheCarcinoid Cancer Foundationoffers a checklist for those newly diagnosed with carcinoid cancer.
Summary
Carcinoid tumors are slow-growing cancerous tumors found in areas of the body such as the GI tract and lungs. They may also spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver.
Many people with carcinoid tumors do not show symptoms unless complications, such as carcinoid syndrome, occur. Carcinoid tumors may be discovered during the diagnosis or treatment of another condition. Tools such as imaging, lab tests, and scope procedures may be used to make a diagnosis.
Surgery is the preferred treatment for carcinoid tumors, but other treatments, such as medication, radiation, and chemotherapy, may be used.
A Word From Verywell
If you have symptoms of carcinoid cancer, contact a healthcare provider for an evaluation. Treatment options are available for carcinoid tumors, but early diagnosis always offers a better disease outlook. Remember that there are resources to support you during cancer treatment and coping methods you can use to live well.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Carcinoid tumor.National Cancer Institute.Carcinoid tumor.Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.Gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor.MedlinePlus.Carcinoid tumors.Cedars-Sinai.Carcinoid tumor.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Carcinoid syndrome.Carcinoid Cancer Foundation.A review of neuroendocrine cancer.Grozinsky-Glasberg S, Grossman AB, Gross DJ.Carcinoid heart disease: from pathophysiology to treatment - ‘something in the way it moves’.Neuroendocrinology. 2015;101(4):263-273. doi:10.1159/000381930American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors.American Cancer Society.Chemotherapy and other drugs for gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Carcinoid tumor.National Cancer Institute.Carcinoid tumor.Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.Gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor.MedlinePlus.Carcinoid tumors.Cedars-Sinai.Carcinoid tumor.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Carcinoid syndrome.Carcinoid Cancer Foundation.A review of neuroendocrine cancer.Grozinsky-Glasberg S, Grossman AB, Gross DJ.Carcinoid heart disease: from pathophysiology to treatment - ‘something in the way it moves’.Neuroendocrinology. 2015;101(4):263-273. doi:10.1159/000381930American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors.American Cancer Society.Chemotherapy and other drugs for gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Carcinoid tumor.National Cancer Institute.Carcinoid tumor.Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.Gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor.MedlinePlus.Carcinoid tumors.Cedars-Sinai.Carcinoid tumor.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Carcinoid syndrome.Carcinoid Cancer Foundation.A review of neuroendocrine cancer.Grozinsky-Glasberg S, Grossman AB, Gross DJ.Carcinoid heart disease: from pathophysiology to treatment - ‘something in the way it moves’.Neuroendocrinology. 2015;101(4):263-273. doi:10.1159/000381930American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors.American Cancer Society.Chemotherapy and other drugs for gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Carcinoid tumor.
National Cancer Institute.Carcinoid tumor.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.Gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor.
MedlinePlus.Carcinoid tumors.
Cedars-Sinai.Carcinoid tumor.
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Carcinoid syndrome.
Carcinoid Cancer Foundation.A review of neuroendocrine cancer.
Grozinsky-Glasberg S, Grossman AB, Gross DJ.Carcinoid heart disease: from pathophysiology to treatment - ‘something in the way it moves’.Neuroendocrinology. 2015;101(4):263-273. doi:10.1159/000381930
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors.
American Cancer Society.Chemotherapy and other drugs for gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors.
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