Carcinoid syndrome is the pattern of symptoms that typically are
exhibited by people with carcinoid tumors. The symptoms include
bright red facial flushing, diarrhea, and occasionally wheezing. A
specific type of heart valve damage can occur, as well as other
cardiac problems. Carcinoid tumors secrete excessive amounts of the
hormone serotonin. Surgery with complete removal of the tumor
tissue is the ideal treatment. It can result in a permanent cure if
it is possible to remove the tumor entirely.
Review Date: 09/26/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of
General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington
School of Medicine; Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow
Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed
by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
