Carcinoid Tumors
Summary
Carcinoid tumors are rare, slow-growing cancers. They usually start in the lining of the digestive tract or in the lungs. They grow slowly and don’t produce symptoms in the early stages. As a result, the average age of people diagnosed with digestive or lung carcinoids is about 60.
In later stages the tumors sometimes produce hormones that can cause carcinoid syndrome. The syndrome causes flushing of the face and upper chest, diarrhea, and trouble breathing.
Surgery is the main treatment for carcinoid tumors. If they haven’t spread to other parts of the body, surgery can cure the cancer.
- Carcinoid Tumors (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- General Information About Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Tumors
(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish - Neuroendocrine Tumor of the Gastrointestinal Tract (American Society of Clinical Oncology)
- What Are Lung Carcinoid Tumors? (American Cancer Society)
- What Is a Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumor? (American Cancer Society)
