Surgery for carcinoid tumours of the lower gastrointestinal tract

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Carcinoid tumours are rare neoplasms that originate from neuroendocrine cells of the primitive gastrointestinal tract. Mid- and hind-gut tumours comprise the majority of these rare tumours. With many recent advances in medical treatment the role and importance of surgery and the surgeon needs to be assessed. A Medline, Pubmed and Embase databases search was undertaken. All relevant articles were cross-referenced. Incidental findings of carcinoid tumours should be treated at initial surgery whilst elective surgery and further management should be undertaken in specialist centres by a multidisciplinary team. Asymptomatic patients have a better prognosis than those with symptoms. In advanced cases surgery combined with chemotherapy and liver resection is appropriate. The outlook for the majority of cases is good.