Carcinoid tumors are rare tumors, most commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract. Carcinoid tumors can also occur in the lung, however. When diagnosed early, carcinoid tumors are very curable.

There are not usually symptoms of early stage gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors. When symptoms do occur, it has spread to other organs, in 90% of patients. The diagnosis of carcinoid tumors usually occurs during abdominal surgery for another reason. The cause of carcinoid tumors is not known. It is not known to run in families.

What is a gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor?