Are you an EPFL student looking for a semester project?
Work with us on data science and visualisation projects, and deploy your project as an app on top of Graph Search.
Concept
Carcinoid syndrome
Summary
Carcinoid syndrome is a paraneoplastic syndrome comprising the signs and symptoms that occur secondary to neuroendocrine tumors (formerly known as carcinoid tumors). The syndrome is caused by neuroendocrine tumors most often found in the gut releasing biologically active substances into the blood causing symptoms such as flushing and diarrhea, and less frequently, heart failure, vomiting and bronchoconstriction.
The carcinoid syndrome occurs in approximately 10% of all neuroendocrine tumors or about 30-40% of more advanced/well developed neuroendocrine tumors. The biologically active substances that are released by the tumors cause the symptoms of the carcinoid syndrome. These substances act on the vessels to produce the symptoms of the carcinoid syndrome.
Flushing: The most common finding is flushing of the skin, usually of the head and the upper part of thorax in about 85% of people. The flushing may come and go and may also be triggered by various factors such as diet (i.e. alcohol intake), activity, and stress.
Diarrhea: The second most common finding occurring in about 80% of people. It may also be associated with abdominal cramping and pain.
Bronchoconstriction: A relatively rare symptom affects about 15% of those having carcinoid syndrome and often accompanies flushing, sneezing, and shortness of breath.
Heart Disease: About 60-70% of the those affected by carcinoid syndrome develop cardiac complications. This mainly affects the right side of the heart causing fibrosis of the tricuspid and pulmonic valves. This may be heard as a murmur and may contribute to fatigue.
Less common symptoms include malabsorption (leading to pellagra), fatigue, muscle loss, and cognitive impairment. Late complications may include mesenteric and retroperitoneal fibroses as well.
The carcinoid syndrome occurs secondary to neuroendocrine tumors. These tumors occur mostly in the gut and less commonly in the lungs, but may also occur in other places in the body such as the pancreas, kidneys, and other organs.
Official source
About this result
This page is automatically generated and may contain information that is not correct, complete, up-to-date, or relevant to your search query. The same applies to every other page on this website. Please make sure to verify the information with EPFL's official sources.
Related publications (2)
Related concepts (3)
Carcinoid
A carcinoid (also carcinoid tumor) is a slow-growing type of neuroendocrine tumor originating in the cells of the neuroendocrine system. In some cases, metastasis may occur. Carcinoid tumors of the midgut (jejunum, ileum, appendix, and cecum) are associated with carcinoid syndrome. Sometimes, carcinoids cause paraneoplastic syndromes, which involve discharge of serotonin and other vasoactive substances from well-differentiated carcinoids.
Flushing (physiology)
Flushing is to become markedly red in the face and often other areas of the skin, from various physiological conditions. Flushing is generally distinguished from blushing, since blushing is psychological, milder, generally restricted to the face, cheeks or ears, and generally assumed to reflect emotional stress, such as embarrassment, anger, or romantic stimulation. Flushing is also a cardinal symptom of carcinoid syndrome—the syndrome that results from hormones (often serotonin or histamine) being secreted into systemic circulation.
Valvular heart disease
Valvular heart disease is any cardiovascular disease process involving one or more of the four valves of the heart (the aortic and mitral valves on the left side of heart and the pulmonic and tricuspid valves on the right side of heart). These conditions occur largely as a consequence of aging, but may also be the result of congenital (inborn) abnormalities or specific disease or physiologic processes including rheumatic heart disease and pregnancy.