Gastric Carcinoid Tumours

Small, clinically quite innocent, carcinoid tumours can be found in the stomach associated with atrophic gastritis. Carcinoid tumours produce several active substanses like serotonin, histamine and other vasoactive peptides. If these substances are not inactivated in the liver they can cause a syndrome called carcinoid syndrome, the main symptom of which is flushing attacks, abdominal cramps, diarrhea and elevated blood pressure. Carcinoid syndrome is most often a sign of disseminated disease with mestastatic tumours in the liver. Surgery is the treatment of choice if possible. Symptoms in disseminated disease with carcinoid syndrome can be relieved by medical therapy.