Carcinoid syndrome typically occurs in the gastrointestinal tract. It can occur at any part of the digestive tract except esophageal. Main symptoms include skin flushing episodes, diarrhea, abdominal pain and intestinal bleeding. These carcinoid tumors are malignant. However, they grow very slowly. The course of duration is generally 10 to 15 years. Even if they spread, patients can still survive for a long time. That's why they are called carcinoid instead of cancer. Treatment: surgical treatment is good for carcinoid without spreading. Symptomatic treatment: if patients have diarrhea, 5-HT3 antagonists such as oral cyproheptadine can be used.
How is Carcinoid syndrome treated in practice?