Carcinoid Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
المتلازمة السرطاوية
Carcinoid syndrome is a group of symptoms caused by substances released into the bloodstream by certain neuroendocrine tumors. Flushing and diarrhea may occur, but not every NET causes it.
What is Carcinoid Syndrome?
The hormone syndrome differs from the tumor itself. More common explanations for flushing or diarrhea should be assessed before attributing them to cancer.
Related reading: Neuroendocrine tumor types.
Symptoms
Episodes of facial flushing, watery diarrhea, wheezing or palpitations may occur. Swelling or breathlessness can indicate heart-valve involvement.
Causes
Tumor products, including serotonin, drive symptoms. Risk relates to tumor type, location, spread and secretory pattern.
Risk factors
Risk depends on tumor biology, location, spread and secretion. Flushing alone or an isolated uninterpreted test cannot establish the syndrome.
Diagnosis
Specialists select serotonin-metabolite testing, tumor imaging and biopsy when needed. Foods and medicines can affect tests; follow preparation instructions without independently stopping prescriptions.
Treatment
Care targets both the tumor and its secretions, using somatostatin analogues and selected additional therapies. Nutrition and heart-valve assessment form part of follow-up.
Complications
Valve disease, dehydration and nutritional problems may develop, and a severe hormonal crisis can occur. Diarrhea relief does not replace tumor and cardiac surveillance.
Prevention
There is no established prevention. Track individual triggers and discuss symptom-provoking exposures; inform the anesthesia team before any procedure.
When to see a doctor
Low blood pressure, fainting, severe breathing difficulty or sudden deterioration requires emergency care because of possible carcinoid crisis. Severe diarrhea with dehydration also needs urgent treatment.