Carcinoid Tumors: Prognosis, Symptoms & Treatment

Carcinoid tumors originate in the neuroendocrine system. Prognosis depends on the location of the tumors and whether they have metastasized, or spread to other areas.

Small Undiagnosed Tumors

• According to Dr. Richard Warner, about 1 in 100 people have small, insignificant carcinoid tumors. These tumors are usually benign and cause no symptoms. Prognosis for a normal lifespan is excellent.

Removable Tumors

• If carcinoid tumors haven't spread beyond local tissue and can be surgically removed, average survival time after diagnosis is eight to 23 years.

Small IntestineTumors

• In cases where small intestine tumors can't be completely removed, a five-year survival prognosis is 50 percent.

Other Gastrointestinal Tumors

• Stomach tumors are often small and rarely fatal, although if they become larger, they may metastasize in half of the cases. Tumors of the appendix are generally benign; the five-year survival rate is 87 percent. Rectal tumors have a 72 percent five-year survival rate, unless metastasis has already occurred at the time of diagnosis, which lowers the five-year survival rate to 27 percent.

Carcinoid Syndrome

• Patients who develop carcinoid syndrome, characterized by lung, heart and gastrointestinal complications, survive 12 years on average with active treatment.

Lung Tumors

• Carcinoid lung tumors have a five-year survival rate of 85 to 90 percent. Atypical carcinoid tumors, which are more malignant than typical carcinoid tumors, drop five-year survival rates to 50 to 60 percent.