Appendiceal Carcinoid tumor (3 of 3)

Carcinoid tumor of the Appendix

Most patients with appendiceal carcinoids are
asymptomatic. Symptoms are more likely with large
tumors, those located at the base of the appendix, and with
metastatic disease. The majority of tumors are located in
the distal one-third of the appendix where they are unlikely
to cause obstruction. In approximately 10 percent of
patients, tumors are located at the base, where they can
cause obstruction, leading to appendicitis. Features of the
carcinoid syndrome may be present in patients with tumors
that have metastasized to the liver.

The prognosis of appendiceal carcinoids is best predicted
by the size of the tumor, and the presence or absence of
nodal or distant metastases. tumors less than 2 cm in size
(found in approximately 95 percent of patients) are unlikely
to have metastasized when diagnosed. In contrast, up to 30
percent of larger tumors have already metastasized at
diagnosis.