Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumors

Abstract

Owing to the recent discovery of their endocrine activity, gastrointestinal carcinoids are now better understood. Early diagnosis remains a problem, for many carcinoids are clinically silent for years. Operative treatment has been fairly well standardized on the basis of past experience regarding invasion and metastasis. Treatment of metastases, other than those in local lymph nodes, has not been explored fully, and an effective method has not been found. Therapy for the systemic manifestations of the carcinoid syndrome has been only partially successful.