Treatment Options for Carcinoid Tumors

Prognosis for Carcinoid Tumors

The prognosis (outlook or chance of recovery) for patients with carcinoid tumors is based primarily on size of the tumor and the degree to which it has spread and invaded other tissues in the body. In general, because carcinoid tumors grow and spread slowly, they often are discovered at an early stage thereby improving the chance of a successful outcome .

According to the American Cancer Society, 5-year survival rates for patients with carcinoid tumors based on staging include:

• For tumors diagnosed as localized - 78%
• For tumors diagnosed as regional spread - 72%
• For tumor diagnosed as distant spread - 39%
• Generalized survival for all stages - 68%

It is important to note that many people live many years after being diagnosed with a carcinoid tumor and advances in diagnosis and treatment will likely further improve the prognosis in the future. Patients with carcinoid tumors who undergo surgical treatment have a more favorable prognosis than those who do not undergo surgery. Survival has also improved with the introduction of treatment with the somatostatin analogs octreotide and lancreotide.

The prognosis for carcinoid tumors which are identified early and surgically removed is very favorable.

• Pulmonary Carcinoids - Estimates for 5-year survival following bronchial resection are reported to be approximately 90%, although that number is reduced if there is lymph node involvement or distal metastases.

• Gastric Carcinoids - Gastric carcinoids associated with hypergastrinemia have a better prognosis for 5-year survival (estimates range from 80-100%) than sporadic tumors.

• Midgut Carcinoids - Of the midgut tumors, those arising from the appendix carry the most favorable prognosis with up to 90-100% 5-year survival following appendectomy for small tumors.

• Small Intestine Carcinoids - Carcinoid tumors of the small intestine carry a better prognosis if they are small when resected. The prognosis for 5 year survival decreases with lymph node involvement and even more so with liver involvement.

• Rectal Carcinoids - Rectal carcinoids carry a very favorable prognosis if discovered and removed while less than 2 cm. in size. The 5-year survival rate is reported to approach 100%.