Carcinoid tumor of the kidney. The use of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy in diagnosis and management.

Three patients were diagnosed with carcinoid tumors of the kidney. The diagnosis was rendered after biopsy with the assistance of immunohistochemical stains. In all three patients, a pentetreotide scan was helpful in staging. Metastatic disease that was not evident by computed tomography was found in one patient. All three patients are alive with stable or slowly progressive disease at 33, 36, and 40 months. Carcinoid tumors arising from the kidney are rare but must be considered in the differential diagnosis of a renal mass. Immunohistochemical staining is important in the diagnosis of these tumors and the pentetreotide scan contributes to accurate staging.