Gastric Carcinoids


Gastric Carcinoids are rare neuroendocrine tumors accounting for less than 1% of all gastric neoplasms. Carcinoid tumors arise from enterochromaffin-like cells and can be secondary to hypergastrinemia associated with pernicious anemia or chronic atrophic gastritis. Tumors tend to be small, multiple, and asymptomatic, although larger solitary tumors may cause ulceration of overlying mucosa and symptoms similar to PUD. EGD with biopsy generally provides diagnosis. Treatment of large (>2 cm), solitary tumors is gastrectomy because these have the highest invasive potential.
Treatment for smaller, multifocal tumors is less clear, with options ranging from observation, gastrectomy to include the tumors, and antrectomy without inclusion of tumors to reduce gastrin levels and induce tumor regression.