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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 28, 2005; 11(44): 7028-7032
Published online Nov 28, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i44.7028
Upper gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors incidentally found by endoscopic examinations
Seng-Kee Chuah, Tsung-Hui Hu, Chung-Mou Kuo, King-Wah Chiu, Chung-Huang Kuo, Keng-Liang Wu, Yeh-Pin Chou, Sheng-Nan Lu, Shue-Shian Chiou, Chi-Sin Changchien, Hock-Liew Eng
Seng-Kee Chuah, Tsung-Hui Hu, Chung-Mou Kuo, King-Wah Chiu, Chung-Huang Kuo, Keng-Liang Wu, Yeh-Pin Chou, Sheng-Nan Lu, Shue-Shian Chiou, Chi-Sin Changchien, Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 123, Ta-Pei Road, Niao-sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan, China
Hock-Liew Eng, Department of Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 123, Ta-Pei Road, Niao-sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Shue-Shian Chiou, Department of Gastroenterology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, 123, Ta-Pei Road, Niao-sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan, China. chuahsk@seed.net.tw
Telephone: +886-7-7317123 ext. 8301 Fax: +886-7-7322402
Received: March 27, 2005
Revised: July 15, 2005
Accepted: July 20, 2005
Published online: November 28, 2005
Abstract

AIM: This study shares Asian clinical experiences of carcinoid tumors that originated in the upper gastrointestinal tract.

METHODS: From May 1987 to June 2002, we had found only 13 cases of histologically confirmed carcinoid tumors in the upper gastrointestinal tract by endoscopic examinations. There were eight males and five females. The mean age was 53.16±20.51 years that ranged from 26 to 82 years. Each of their clinical presentations, locations, tumor morphology, and size and the treatment outcome were analyzed and discussed.

RESULTS: One patient had a polypoid lesion at the lower esophagus, nine were stomach lesions and three located at the duodenum. All patients with polypoid and submucosal tumor types were of small size (<1.7 cm) and all patients survived after simple excision or polypectomy. Four of the five patients in tumor mass forms died and the tumors were more than 2.0 cm in size.

CONCLUSION: Carcinoid tumors rarely originated from the upper gastrointestinal tract and are usually found accidentally after endoscopic study. Bigger size (more than 2 cm) tumor masses may indicate a more severe disease and poor prognosis.

Keywords: Upper gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors; Tumor morphology; Sizes; Treatment courses; Prognosis