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Carcinoid Tumors and Carcinoid Syndrome

(Neuroendocrine Tumors)

By

B. Mark Evers

, MD, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky

Reviewed/Revised Apr 2022 | Modified Sep 2022
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Topic Resources

Carcinoid tumors are noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant) growths that sometimes produce excessive amounts of hormone-like substances (such as serotonin), resulting in the carcinoid syndrome. Carcinoid syndrome is a group of specific symptoms that occur as a result of these hormones.

  • People with carcinoid tumors may have cramping pain and changes in bowel movements.

  • People with carcinoid syndrome usually have flushing and sometimes diarrhea.

  • Doctors measure the amount of a serotonin byproduct in a person’s urine.

  • Imaging tests are needed to determine tumor location.

  • Sometimes tumors are removed surgically.

  • People may need to take drugs to control symptoms.

Carcinoid tumors (sometimes called neuroendocrine tumors) usually originate in hormone-producing cells that line the small intestine or other parts of the digestive tract. They can also occur in the pancreas, lungs (bronchial carcinoid Bronchial Carcinoid Bronchial carcinoids are rare, slow-growing tumors of the lining of the airways (bronchi). Carcinoid tumors (sometimes called neuroendocrine tumors) usually originate in hormone-producing cells... read more ), or rarely the testes or ovaries.

Carcinoid tumors can produce an excess of hormone-like substances, such as serotonin, bradykinin, histamine, and prostaglandins. Excess levels of these substances can sometimes result in a diverse set of symptoms called carcinoid syndrome. Carcinoid tumors use the amino acid tryptophan to produce the excess serotonin. Because tryptophan is normally used by the body to make niacin (vitamin B3), people may rarely develop a niacin deficiency Niacin Deficiency Niacin deficiency (causing pellagra) is uncommon in countries with low rates of food insecurity. Many people with niacin deficiency also have deficiencies of protein, riboflavin (a B vitamin)... read more Niacin Deficiency , which can cause the disease pellagra.

When carcinoid tumors occur in the digestive tract or pancreas, the substances they produce are released into a blood vessel that flows directly to the liver (portal vein), where enzymes destroy them. Therefore, carcinoid tumors that originate in the digestive tract generally do not cause symptoms of carcinoid syndrome unless the tumors have spread to the liver.

If the tumors have spread to the liver, the liver is unable to process the substances before they begin circulating throughout the body. Depending on which substances are being released by the tumors, the person will have the various symptoms of carcinoid syndrome. Carcinoid tumors of the lungs, testes, and ovaries also cause symptoms because the substances they produce bypass the liver and circulate widely in the bloodstream.

Symptoms

People with carcinoid tumors can develop symptoms due to the growth of the tumor, similar to symptoms of other intestinal tumors. These symptoms are mainly cramping pain and changes in bowel movements as a result of the tumor blocking the intestine.

Carcinoid syndrome

Fewer than 10% of people with carcinoid tumors develop symptoms of carcinoid syndrome, although this percentage varies depending on where the tumor is located.

The most common, and often earliest symptom of carcinoid syndrome is

  • Uncomfortable flushing, typically of the head and neck

Flushing, the result of blood vessel widening (dilation), can be triggered by emotions, by eating, or by drinking alcohol or hot liquids. The flushing may cause the skin to have color changes ranging from red to violet to purple.

Excessive contraction of the intestine may result in abdominal cramping and diarrhea. The intestine may not be able to absorb nutrients properly, resulting in undernutrition Undernutrition Undernutrition is a deficiency of calories or of one or more essential nutrients. Undernutrition may develop because people cannot obtain or prepare food, have a disorder that makes eating or... read more Undernutrition and fatty, foul-smelling stools.

Wheezing and shortness of breath may result from blockage of airflow in the lungs.

Diagnosis

  • Urine testing for 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid

  • Sometimes imaging to locate a tumor

When symptoms lead a doctor to suspect a carcinoid tumor, the diagnosis can often be confirmed by measuring the amount of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA)—one of the chemical byproducts of serotonin—in the person’s urine, which is collected over a 24-hour period. For at least 3 days before undergoing this test, the person refrains from eating foods that are rich in serotonin—bananas, tomatoes, plums, avocados, pineapples, eggplants, and walnuts.

Certain drugs, including guaifenesin (found in many cough syrups), methocarbamol (a muscle relaxant), and phenothiazines (antipsychotics), also interfere with test results. People who are taking any drugs, particularly one of these, should discuss with their doctor before collecting urine for this test.

Other causes of flushing, such as menopause Menopause Menopause is the permanent end of menstrual periods, ovulation, and fertility. For up to several years before and just after menopause, estrogen levels fluctuate widely, periods become irregular... read more Menopause or alcohol ingestion, need to be excluded. This can usually be done by asking the person questions (such as their age and about their alcohol use), but sometimes testing is necessary. Sometimes when the diagnosis is not certain, doctors give the person a drug to try to induce flushing (called a provocative test), but this method is rarely used and must be done with care.

Locating the tumor

Radionuclide imaging Radionuclide Scanning Radionuclide scanning is a type of medical imaging that produces images by detecting radiation after a radioactive material is administered. During a radionuclide scan, a small amount of a radionuclide... read more or scanning is another useful test. During this test, a substance containing a radioactive tracer is injected intravenously into the body and collects in a particular organ. Most carcinoid tumors have receptors for the hormone somatostatin. Doctors can therefore inject a radioactive form of somatostatin or a related substance into the blood and use radionuclide imaging to locate a carcinoid tumor and determine whether it has spread. About 90% of tumors can be located using this technique. MRI or CT can be helpful in confirming whether the tumor has spread to the liver.

Treatment

  • Surgery to remove the tumor

  • Octreotide and other drugs to relieve flushing and other symptoms

Surgery and other treatments

When a carcinoid tumor is restricted to a specific area, such as the appendix, small intestine, rectum, or lungs, surgical removal may cure the disease. If the tumor has spread to the liver, surgery rarely cures the disease but may help relieve symptoms. Other treatments, such as embolization, in which substances are injected into the tumor through blood vessels in the liver, also can help liver tumors. Carcinoid tumors grow so slowly that even people whose tumors have spread often survive for 10 to 15 years.

Several newer drugs such as everolimus also may be helpful. Chemotherapy is usually not helpful, but certain regimens (streptozocin with fluorouracil and cyclophosphamide) are often tried in people whose disease has spread. Radiation therapy is not useful.

Symptom control

The drugs octreotide and lanreotide can relieve flushing symptoms. Some forms of these drugs can be given only once a month. Other treatments for flushing include phenothiazines (such as prochlorperazine) and histamine-blocking drugs such as famotidine. Rarely, phentolamine is used to control flushing in people with carcinoid syndrome. Prednisone is sometimes given to people with carcinoid tumors of the lungs who have episodes of severe flushing.

Diarrhea may be controlled with loperamide, codeine, tincture of opium, diphenoxylate, or cyproheptadine.

Pellagra may be prevented by ensuring adequate protein in the diet and by taking niacin. Drugs that block the production of serotonin, such as methyldopa, also help prevent pellagra.

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Generic Name Select Brand Names
5-HTP, 5-HTP Maximum Strength
ENDUR-ACIN, ENDUR-AMIDE, Niacor, Niaspan, NiaVasc, Nicomide-T, Slo-Niacin
AllFen, AllFen Jr, Altarussin , Altorant , Ambi, Amibid LA , Bidex, Chest Congestion Relief, Cough , Diabetic Tussin, Diabetic Tussin EX, Diabetic Tussin Expectorant, Diabetic Tussin Mucus Relief, Drituss G, Duratuss G, ElixSure EX, Fenesin , Ganidin NR, GERI-TUSSIN, Gua SR , Guaidrine G, Guaifenex G, Guaifenex LA, Guiatuss, Humibid, Humibid E, Humibid LA, Iophen-NR , Liquibid, Miltuss EX, Mucinex, Mucinex Children's, Mucinex Children's Chest Congestion, Mucinex Children's Mini-Melts, Mucinex Fast-Max Chest Congestion, Mucinex Junior Strength, Muco-Fen, Mucosa, Mucus + Chest Congestion, Mucus ER, Mucus Relief, Mucus Relief 12 Hour, Mucus Relief Children's, Mucus Relief ER, MucusRelief DM, Naldecon, Organ-1 NR, Organidin NR, Q-Bid LA, Q-Tussin, Respa-GF, Robafen , Robafen Congestion, Robitussin, Robitussin Mucus + Chest Congestion, Ru-Tuss, Scot-Tussin Expectorant, Siltussin DAS, Siltussin Diabetic DAS-Na , Siltussin SA, Touro EX, TUSNEL-EX, Xpect
Robaxin
Bynfezia, Mycapssa, Sandostatin, Sandostatin LAR
Afinitor , Afinitor DISPERZ, Zortress
Zanosar
Adrucil, Carac, Efudex, Fluoroplex, Tolak
Cyclophosphamide, Cytoxan, Neosar
Somatuline Depot
Compazine, Compazine Rectal, Compazine Solution, Compazine Syrup, Compro
Heartburn Relief, Pepcid, Pepcid AC, Pepcid AC Maximum Strength, Zantac 360
Deltasone, Predone, RAYOS, Sterapred, Sterapred DS
Anti-Diarrheal, Imodium A-D, Imodium A-D EZ Chews , K-Pek II
No brand name available
Periactin
Aldomet
NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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