[Diagnosis and treatment for carcinoid tumors in the digestive tract].

The authors analyzed the characteristics of carcinoid tumors according to their site in the digestive tract. Despite their low speed of growing and metastasis process, such neoplasias are malignant and must be submitted to surgical resection. Advanced cases with metastases are treated with somatostatin derivatives, lessening symptoms, causing occasional regression of lesions and presenting an extended survival. Appendicular and rectal lesions have a better prognosis maybe due to the early diagnosis performed.