Diagnosis and treatment of gastric carcinoid tumors

Objective To investigate the method for surgical diagnosis and treatment of gastric carcinoid tumors. Methods Clinicopathologic features of 9 patients with gastric carcinoid tumors were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were confirmed by biopsy at endoscopy or surgery. Results Eight of the 9 patients underwent elective operation, 6 showed gastric carcinoid tumors before operation found by biopsy at endoscopy. Five tumors were malignant and 4 benign. Two patients showed malignant carcinoid syndrome, but 5 HT and 5 HIAA were normal. Conclusions Benign or malignant gastric carcinoid tumor depends upon tumor size, local lymph node invasion and distant metastases. The prognostic factor is based on benign or malignant tumors. Operation may be the first choice for such patients.