Endo: Carcinoid Tumours

Question 1

Where are carcinoid tumours derived from?

Answer 1

Epithelial cells but phenotypically resemble endocrine cells

Question 2

Where can you find neuroendocrine cells that could form a carcinoid tumour?

Answer 2

Many organs:

GIT (MOST COMMON)

Pancreatic islets
Lungs
Bilary tract
Liver
C cells of thyroid (medullary ca)
Adrenal gland

Question 3

Peak age of incidence of carcinoid tumours

Answer 3

any age but peak at 50-60

Question 4

How many colorectal tumours are carcinoid?

Answer 4

2%

Question 5

How many small intestinal tumours are carcinoid?

Answer 5

50%

Question 6

Most vs least aggressive carcinoid tumours?

Answer 6

Gastric and small bowel more aggressive

Appendiceal and rectual less aggressive

Question 7

Histological features of carcinoid tumours

Answer 7

Often bland, monotonous cell population with little pleomorphism

Question 8

Electron microscopy features of carcinoid tumours

Answer 8

characteristic presence of neurosecretory granules

Question 9

What is Zollinger-Ellison syndrome?

Answer 9

Hypersecretion of acid in stomach with multiple ulcers

Can be caused by gastric or pancreatic carcinoids which produce gastrin

Question 10

How many people with metastatic carcinoid tumours get carcinoid syndrome?

Answer 10

20%

Question 11

What causes carcinoid syndrome

Answer 11

Due to elevated levels of serotonin and 5-hydroxindoleacetic acid in the blood

Question 12

Clinical features of carcinoid syndrome (5 main areas)

Answer 12

Vasomotor disturbances: Cutaneous flushes and apparent cyanosis

Intestinal hyper motility

Asthmatic bronco-constrictive attacks

Hepatomegaly

Systemic fibrosis (affecting heart, valves, lungs, pelvis, pleural plaques)