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Carcinoids of unknown origin: comparative analysis with foregut, midgut, and hindgut carcinoids.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Kirshbom, PM; Kherani, AR; Onaitis, MW; Feldman, JM; Tyler, DS
Published in: Surgery
December 1998

BACKGROUND: Carcinoids are rare neuroendocrine tumors typically arising in the gastrointestinal tract. A significant percentage of these tumors present as metastatic disease of unknown primary site. The aim of this study was to better define the functional and clinical characteristics of carcinoids of unknown primary (CUP) site. METHODS: This study examines the hormonal activity, clinical characteristics, and survival of 434 patients with carcinoids originating in the foregut, midgut, hindgut, or unknown location. The 143 patients with CUP were compared with the other groups with regard to presenting characteristics, diagnostic tests and therapeutic modalities used, hormonal activity, and survival. RESULTS: The hormone levels (urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and serotonin, serum and platelet serotonin) of CUP were not significantly different from midgut carcinoids with metastatic disease. Although survival with CUP was shorter than with carcinoids with identified primaries (10-year survivals of 22% vs 62%, 50%, and 48% for foregut, midgut, and hindgut, respectively), the survival curve for CUP was quite similar to that of patients with midgut carcinoids with distant disease (10-year survival of 22% vs 28%). CONCLUSIONS: CUP are similar to midgut carcinoids presenting with metastatic disease with regard to hormone production and survival. Like other carcinoids, CUP can be an indolent disease process with gradual progression over decades.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Surgery

DOI

ISSN

0039-6060

Publication Date

December 1998

Volume

124

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1063 / 1070

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Survival Rate
  • Surgery
  • Stomach Neoplasms
  • Neoplasms, Unknown Primary
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Intestinal Neoplasms
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Carcinoid Tumor
 

Citation

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Kirshbom, P. M., Kherani, A. R., Onaitis, M. W., Feldman, J. M., & Tyler, D. S. (1998). Carcinoids of unknown origin: comparative analysis with foregut, midgut, and hindgut carcinoids. Surgery, 124(6), 1063–1070. https://doi.org/10.1067/msy.1998.93105
Kirshbom, P. M., A. R. Kherani, M. W. Onaitis, J. M. Feldman, and D. S. Tyler. “Carcinoids of unknown origin: comparative analysis with foregut, midgut, and hindgut carcinoids.Surgery 124, no. 6 (December 1998): 1063–70. https://doi.org/10.1067/msy.1998.93105.
Kirshbom PM, Kherani AR, Onaitis MW, Feldman JM, Tyler DS. Carcinoids of unknown origin: comparative analysis with foregut, midgut, and hindgut carcinoids. Surgery. 1998 Dec;124(6):1063–70.
Kirshbom, P. M., et al. “Carcinoids of unknown origin: comparative analysis with foregut, midgut, and hindgut carcinoids.Surgery, vol. 124, no. 6, Dec. 1998, pp. 1063–70. Pubmed, doi:10.1067/msy.1998.93105.
Kirshbom PM, Kherani AR, Onaitis MW, Feldman JM, Tyler DS. Carcinoids of unknown origin: comparative analysis with foregut, midgut, and hindgut carcinoids. Surgery. 1998 Dec;124(6):1063–1070.
Journal cover image

Published In

Surgery

DOI

ISSN

0039-6060

Publication Date

December 1998

Volume

124

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1063 / 1070

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Survival Rate
  • Surgery
  • Stomach Neoplasms
  • Neoplasms, Unknown Primary
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Intestinal Neoplasms
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Carcinoid Tumor