OBJECTIVE: To discuss the diagnosis and management of primary carcinoid tumors of the liver in light of our experience and a literature review. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Carcinoid tumors of the liver are rare and pose a diagnostic and management dilemma. This series is the largest reported and the only one to include liver transplantation as a treatment option. METHODS: Between March 1994 and May 2002, we treated 8 patients (4 male, 4 female) with primary hepatic carcinoid tumors. Carcinoid syndrome complicated only 1 of the cases. Treatment was by liver resection in 6 patients and orthotopic liver transplantation in 2. RESULTS: The diagnosis was confirmed histologically with light microscopy and immunohistochemistry in the absence of an alternative primary site. Six patients remain alive and disease free after follow-up of more than 3 years: 39, 43, 45, 50, 50, and 95 months. Two patients are recently postoperative. CONCLUSIONS: Active exclusion of an extrahepatic primary site is essential for the diagnosis of primary carcinoid of the liver. The mainstay of treatment should be liver resection, although liver transplantation may be considered in patients with widespread hepatic involvement. A radical surgical approach is warranted as this disease carries a better prognosis than for other primary hepatic tumors and for secondary hepatic carcinoids.
OBJECTIVE: To discuss the diagnosis and management of primary carcinoid tumors of the liver in light of our experience and a literature review. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Carcinoid tumors of the liver are rare and pose a diagnostic and management dilemma. This series is the largest reported and the only one to include liver transplantation as a treatment option. METHODS: Between March 1994 and May 2002, we treated 8 patients (4 male, 4 female) with primary hepatic carcinoid tumors. Carcinoid syndrome complicated only 1 of the cases. Treatment was by liver resection in 6 patients and orthotopic liver transplantation in 2. RESULTS: The diagnosis was confirmed histologically with light microscopy and immunohistochemistry in the absence of an alternative primary site. Six patients remain alive and disease free after follow-up of more than 3 years: 39, 43, 45, 50, 50, and 95 months. Two patients are recently postoperative. CONCLUSIONS: Active exclusion of an extrahepatic primary site is essential for the diagnosis of primary carcinoid of the liver. The mainstay of treatment should be liver resection, although liver transplantation may be considered in patients with widespread hepatic involvement. A radical surgical approach is warranted as this disease carries a better prognosis than for other primary hepatic tumors and for secondary hepatic carcinoids.
Authors: K Takayasu; Y Muramatsu; M Sakamoto; Y Mizuguchi; N Moriyama; F Wakao; T Kosuge; T Takayama; S Hirohashi Journal: J Comput Assist Tomogr Date: 1992 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 1.826
Authors: Hideki Nishio; Ernest Hidalgo; Zaed Z R Hamady; Kadiyala V Ravindra; Anil Kotru; Dowmitra Dasgupta; Ahmed Al-Mukhtar; K Rajendra Prasad; Giles J Toogood; J Peter A Lodge Journal: Ann Surg Date: 2005-08 Impact factor: 12.969
Authors: Luigi Maria Fenoglio; Sara Severini; Domenico Ferrigno; Giovanni Gollè; Cristina Serraino; Christian Bracco; Elisabetta Castagna; Chiara Brignone; Fulvio Pomero; Elena Migliore; Ezio David; Mauro Salizzoni Journal: World J Gastroenterol Date: 2009-05-21 Impact factor: 5.742