Carcinoid syndrome history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Parminder Dhingra, M.D. [2]

Overview

Symptoms of carcinoid tumor include flushing, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, wheezing, and cough.

History

When evaluating a patient for carcinoid syndrome, you should take a detailed history of the presenting symptom (onset, duration, and progression), other associated symptoms, and a thorough past medical history review. Other specific areas of focus when obtaining the history are:

Review of any family history of predisposing genetic disorders such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 or neurofibromatosis type 1.

Symptoms

Carcinoid Syndrome

Common symptoms of carcinoid syndrome include:^[1]

This constellation of symptoms is called carcinoid syndrome or (if acute) carcinoid crisis. Occasionally, hemorrhage or pressure effects of the tumor are the presenting symptoms.

Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumor

Common symptoms of gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor include:^[1]

Abdominal pain
Diarrhea
Facial flushing
Rash
Gastrointestinal bleeding
Pellagra, which causes scale-like skin sores, diarrhea, and mental disturbances
Melena
Nausea
Vomiting
Jaundice

Duodenal Carcinoid Tumor

Common symptoms of duodenal carcinoid tumor due to gastrin overproduction include:^[1]

Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Hemorrhage from multiple and recurrent peptic ulcers
Gastroesophageal reflux
Diarrhea from hypergastrinemia

Jejunal and Ileal Carcinoid Tumor

Common symptoms of jejunal and ileal carcinoid tumor include:^[1]

Small intestinal obstruction

Hemorrhage

Intermittent crampy abdominal pain

Weight loss

Fatigue

Abdominal distention

Diarrhea

Nausea

Vomiting

Colorectal carcinoid Tumor

Common symptoms of colorectal carcinoid tumor include:^[1]

Hemorrhage

Abdominal pain

Constipation

Lung Carcinoid Tumor

Common symptoms of lung carcinoid tumor include:^[1]

Post-obstructive pneumonia
Wheezing
Cough

Thymic Carcinoid

Thymic carcinoid causes Cushing syndrome as a result of adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion by the tumor. Common symptoms of Cushing syndrome include:^[1]

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 Signs and symptoms of carcinoid syndrome. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/types/gi-carcinoid-tumors/patient/gi-carcinoid-treatment-pdq
↑ Yudofsky, Stuart C. (2007). The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Pub, Inc. ISBN 1585622397. Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (help)

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[symptoms-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 Signs and symptoms of carcinoid syndrome. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/types/gi-carcinoid-tumors/patient/gi-carcinoid-treatment-pdq

[2] Yudofsky, Stuart C. (2007). The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Pub, Inc. ISBN 1585622397. Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (help)

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