Carcinoid Tumors

Home » Carcinoid Tumors » Carcinoid Tumors Overview

Carcinoid Tumors Overview

Carcinoid tumors, or carcinoids, originate in hormone-producing cells of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (i.e., esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon), the respiratory tract (i.e., lungs, trachea, bronchi), the hepatobiliary system (i.e., pancreas, gallbladder, liver), and the reproductive glands (i.e., testes, ovaries).

The most common site of origin is the GI tract and carcinoid tumors often develop in the appendix, the rectum, and the lower sections of the small intestine (i.e., the jejunum and the ileum). The large tubes that lead from the windpipe to the lungs (bronchi) are other common sites of origin.

Carcinoids are classified as neuroendocrine tumors. They develop in peptide- and amine-producing cells, which release hormones in response to signals from the nervous system. Excessive amounts of these hormones cause a condition called carcinoid syndrome in approximately 10% of patients with carcinoid tumors.

Carcinoids are slow growing and tumors with the same site of origin often have different characteristics and growth patterns. They can be subdivided according to the following:

• Cellular growth pattern (e.g., trabecular, glandular, undifferentiated, mixed)
• Hormones produced (e.g., bradykinin, serotonin, histamine, prostaglandins)
• Site of origin – foregut (respiratory tract, pancreas, stomach, first section of the small intestine [duodenum]), midgut (jejunum, ileum, appendix, diverticulum, ascending colon), or hindgut (transverse colon, descending colon, rectum)

Incidence and Prevalence
According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 5,000 carcinoid tumors are diagnosed each year in the United States. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), approximately 74% of these tumors originate in the GI tract and 25% occur in the respiratory tract.

Carcinoids are rare in children and are more common in patients older than the age of 50. They are twice as common in men. Carcinoid tumors of the appendix usually are benign and often occur between the ages of 20 and 40.

© 1998-2009 Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Carcinoid Tumors Resources

	Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Your Cancer The more knowledge you have, the easier it is to make decisions about your cancer treatment. Print this free handout to take with you on your next office visit.	Advertising Disclaimer
	Join Our Carcinoid Tumors Forum Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience? The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others.
	Living with...Share your story Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others? As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections.
	Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues. Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience. Help others by sharing your story. View stories already submitted. National Cancer Survivors Day is June 7, 2009 Share your survival story and help others in the fight against cancer. Read stories already submitted
To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar. Advertising Disclaimer