A 40-year analysis of 265 gastric carcinoids.
OBJECTIVE
Gastric carcinoid tumors were previously regarded as rare, benign neoplasms. Few data are available on the epidemiology of this lesion.


METHODS
We have analyzed the End Results Group (1950-1969), the Third National Cancer Survey (1969-1971) and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER, 1973-1991) databases of the National Cancer Institute. The three files consist of 8305 carcinoid cases collectively, including 265 gastric carcinoids.


RESULTS
The percentage of gastric carcinoids among all gastric malignancies has increased from 0.3% to 0.54%. The black:white ratio declined from 0.36 to 0.17 as well as the male:female ratio from 0.9 to 0.57. The age-adjusted incidence rates have increased in white females but are much higher for the black population. Gastric carcinoids are associated with other malignant neoplasms in 7.8% of cases. The 5-yr survival rates for localized lesions, with regional and with distant metastases, were 48.6%, 39.9%, and 10%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Gastric carcinoids have increased in incidence over the last 20 yr. This may represent either improved diagnostic techniques, increased awareness, or a real change in incidence. Poor 5-yr survival rates indicate that gastric carcinoid tumors exhibit an aggressive biological behavior.
Modlin
I M
IM
Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8062, USA.
Sandor
A
A
Tang
L H
LH
Kidd
M
M
Zelterman
D
D
D017677:Age Distribution; D044383:Black People; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American