Tumor, carcinoid

Tumor, carcinoid
A tumor which secretes large amounts of the hormone serotonin. Another name for carcinoid tumor is argentaffinoma. The tumor usually arises in the gastrointestinal tract, anywhere between the stomach and the rectum (the favorite spot is in the appendix) and from there may metastasize (spread) to the liver. In the liver the tumor produces and releases large quantities of serotonin into the systemic bloodstream. The consequences are called the carcinoid syndrome. It is directly due to the serotonin and includes flushing and blushing, swelling of the face (especially around the eyes), flat angiomas (little collections of dilated blood vessels) on the skin, diarrhea, bronchial spasm, rapid pulse, low blood pressure and tricuspid and pulmonary stenosis (narrowing of the tricuspid and pulmonic valves of the heart), often with regurgitation. One or more of four kinds of treatment are used for carcinoid tumors: surgery (to take out the cancer); radiation therapy (using high-dose x-rays to kill the cancer cells); biological therapy (using the body's natural immune system to fight the cancer); and chemotherapy (using drugs to kill cancer cells). Carcinoid tumors are considered a type of endocrine tumor since they secrete a hormone (serotonin). They can occur as part of certain genetic disorders such as the multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 1 and neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1 or von Recklinghausen disease).

Medical dictionary. 2011.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • carcinoid — [From Gr. karki nos, a crab + oid.] n. A small tumor (benign or malignant) arising from the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract; it is usually associated with excessive secretion of serotonin. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Carcinoid — DiseaseDisorder infobox Name = Carcinoid ICD10 = ICD10|E|34|0|e|20 ICD9 = ICD9|259.2 ICDO = ICDO|8240|3 Caption = Picture of a carcinoid tumour that encroaches into lumen of the small bowel (centre of image). Pathology specimen. The prominent… …   Wikipedia

  • Carcinoid tumor — A tumor which secretes large amounts of the hormone serotonin. Carcinoid tumor is also called an argentaffinoma. The tumor usually arises in the gastrointestinal tract, anywhere between the stomach and the rectum (the favorite spot is in the… …   Medical dictionary

  • Carcinoid syndrome — DiseaseDisorder infobox Name = Carcinoid syndrome ICD10 = ICD10|E|34|0|e|20 ICD9 = ICD9|259.2 ICDO = ICDO|8240|3 8245 Caption = OMIM = MedlinePlus = 000347 eMedicineSubj = med eMedicineTopic = 271 DiseasesDB = 2040 MeshID = D008303 Carcinoid… …   Wikipedia

  • Carcinoid syndrome — A syndrome due to carcinoid tumor which secretes large amounts of the hormone serotonin. The syndrome is directly due to the serotonin. Features include flushing and blushing, swelling of the face (especially around the eyes), flat angiomas… …   Medical dictionary

  • carcinoid — See c. tumor, c. syndrome. * * * car·ci·noid kärs ən .ȯid n a benign or malignant tumor arising esp. from the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract (as in the stomach or appendix) * * * n. see argentaffinoma * * * car·ci·noid (kahrґsĭ noid)… …   Medical dictionary

  • tumor — noun an abnormal new mass of tissue that serves no purpose (Freq. 18) • Syn: ↑tumour, ↑neoplasm • Derivationally related forms: ↑neoplastic (for: ↑neoplasm) • …   Useful english dictionary

  • carcinoid — A slow growing type of tumor usually found in the gastrointestinal system (most often in the appendix), and sometimes in the lungs or other sites. Carcinoid tumors may spread to the liver or other sites in the body, and they may secrete… …   English dictionary of cancer terms

  • tumor — 1. Any swelling or tumefaction. 2. SYN: neoplasm. 3. One of the four signs of inflammation (t., calor, dolor, rubor) enunciated by Celsus. [L. t., a swelling] acinar cell t. a …   Medical dictionary

  • carcinoid flush — extensive blotchy red or bluish flushing on the face or trunk, often associated with diarrhea and abdominal pain and sometimes bronchospasm; it is possibly due to vasoactive kinins or other peptides associated with carcinoid tumor …   Medical dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”