Upper gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors incidentally found by endoscopic examinations.
OBJECTIVE
This study shares Asian clinical experiences of carcinoid tumors that originated in the upper gastrointestinal tract.


METHODS
From May 1987 to June 2002, we had found only 13 cases of histologically confirmed carcinoid tumors in the upper gastrointestinal tract by endoscopic examinations. There were eight males and five females. The mean age was 53.16+/-20.51 years that ranged from 26 to 82 years. Each of their clinical presentations, locations, tumor morphology, and size and the treatment outcome were analyzed and discussed.


RESULTS
One patient had a polypoid lesion at the lower esophagus, nine were stomach lesions and three located at the duodenum. All patients with polypoid and submucosal tumor types were of small size (<1.7 cm) and all patients survived after simple excision or polypectomy. Four of the five patients in tumor mass forms died and the tumors were more than 2.0 cm in size.


CONCLUSIONS
Carcinoid tumors rarely originated from the upper gastrointestinal tract and are usually found accidentally after endoscopic study. Bigger size (more than 2 cm) tumor masses may indicate a more severe disease and poor prognosis.
Chuah
Seng-Kee
SK
Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 123, Ta-Pei Road, Niao-sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan, China.
Hu
Tsung-Hui
TH
Kuo
Chung-Mou
CM
Chiu
King-Wah
KW
Kuo
Chung-Huang
CH
Wu
Keng-Liang
KL
Chou
Yeh-Pin
YP
Lu
Sheng-Nan
SN
Chiou
Shue-Shian
SS
Changchien
Chi-Sin
CS
Eng
Hock-Liew
HL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010808:Physical Examination; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies