Carcinoid syndrome. Medical management.

Carcinoids are solid tumours arising from enterochromaffin cells, usually of the gastrointestinal or respiratory tract. They are fairly common, and in autopsy series have been present in up to 1% of cases. In contrast the carcinoid syndrome--the combination of flushing, diarrhoea, wheezing and heart disease due to release of vasoactive substances from these tumours--is rare. One estimate is that in a population of 250 000 over 10 years only two new cases would arise (Linell and Mansson, 1966).