Abstract
Background: We have initiated a clinical database of patients with neuroendocrine tumours (n= 132). Data on patients with well-differentiated endocrine carcinoma (WHO classification) previous classified as midgut carcinoid patients, are presented. Patients and Methods: Retrospectively, 56 patients with midgut carcinoid tumours were evaluated with respect to symptoms, primary tumour size, metastases, tumour markers, treatment and survival. Results: Flushing was described in 29%, diarrhoea in 52%, abdominal pain in 34%, bronchial constriction in 2% and carcinoid heart disease in 4% of the patients. Fifty-two percent had liver metastases at referral. Twenty-seven percent were considered to have had radical surgery. Patients not considered for radical surgery and patients with liver metastases had significantly higher tumour marker levels (serum chromogranin A (CgA), serum serotonin and urinary 5-hydroxyindolic acid (5-HIAA)) compared to radically-operated patients and to patients without liver metastases (p<0.05, respectively). For all the midgut carcinoid tumour patients the overall 5-year survival rate was 72%. The radically-operated patients had a 5-year survival rate of 100% (other death causes excluded). The patients with normal CgA or <5 liver metastases at referral had a 100% 5-year survival rate. The patients with <5 liver metastases had a significantly better 5-year survival rate compared to patients with multiple liver metastases (100% vs. 50%, p<0.05). Conclusion: This group of patients exhibited the same characteristic clinical features with similar survival as reported from other specialised centres. Radical surgery, normal CgA level and <5 liver metastases indicated a good prognosis and patients with <5 liver metastases had a significantly better survival compared to patients with multiple liver metastases.
Footnotes
- Received December 20, 2006.
- Revision received April 4, 2007.
- Accepted April 23, 2007.
- Copyright © 2007 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved