title: Multiple rectal carcinoids with diffuse ganglioneuromatosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rectal carcinoids comprise only about 1% of all anorectal neoplasms. In addition, ganglioneuroma of the gastrointestinal tract is a rare tumor composed ganglion cells, nerve fibers, and supporting cells. Multiple carcinoid tumors with diffuse ganglioneuromatosis limited to the rectum are quite unusual.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 69-year-old man was referred to us because of about 100 small submucosal rectal tumors. He underwent abdominoperineal resection. Pathology revealed carcinoid tumors for about 30 submucosal nodules and diffuse ganglioneuromotosis. To date (6 months later) he remains well with no recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the optimal treatment for the multiple rectal carcinoids remains to be clearly established, it is believed that not all patients with multiple rectal carcinoids (measuring less than 1 cm in diameter) need to have a radical operation. However, the treatment plan for each case should be individualized and a careful follow-up is mandatory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Goto Central Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan. haraguci@mb.ejnet.ne.jp
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haraguchi
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: Miho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koori
authors.forename: Noritsugu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsuneoka
authors.forename: Taiichiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kosaka
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Junichiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Furui
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanematsu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005729:Ganglioneuroma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology*; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011351:Proctoscopy / Q000379:methods; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome