Typical carcinoids and neuroendocrine carcinomas of the stomach: differing clinical courses and prognoses

Kim, Beom Su; Oh, Sung Tae; Yook, Jeong Hwan; Kim, Kab Choong; Kim, Min Gyu; Jeong, Jun Won; Kim, Byung Sik

doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2009.10.028

« Previous Next »The American Journal of Surgery
Volume 200, Issue 3 , Pages 328-333, September 2010

Typical carcinoids and neuroendocrine carcinomas of the stomach: differing clinical courses and prognoses

Beom Su Kim, M.D.
- Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Korea
Sung Tae Oh, M.D.
- Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Korea
Jeong Hwan Yook, M.D.
- Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Korea
Kab Choong Kim, M.D.
- Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Korea
Min Gyu Kim, M.D.
- Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Korea
Jun Won Jeong, M.D.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 388–1, Pungnap 2 dong, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, 138–736, Korea
Byung Sik Kim, M.D.
- Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Korea
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +82-2-3010-3491; fax: +82-2-474-9027

Received 1 July 2009; received in revised form 9 October 2009 published online 12 April 2010.

Abstract

Background

Gastric endocrine tumors are usually classified as 3 types of well-differentiated endocrine tumors (typical carcinoids or carcinoids) and poorly differentiated carcinomas (neuroendocrine carcinomas [NECs]).

Methods

From 1993 to 2008, 97 patients (73 men and 24 women) were diagnosed with gastric neuroendocrine tumors at the Asan Medical Center.

Results

Of the 45 patients with typical carcinoids, 37 underwent surgery (eg, endoscopic resection). Of the 52 patients with NECs, 43 underwent surgery (eg, radical gastrectomy). One patient died of recurrence of the typical carcinoids, whereas 26 patients with NECs died of related diseases (P < .05). The rates of survival and recurrence did not significantly differ by type of typical carcinoid (P > .05).

Conclusions

Regardless of the type, carcinoids that are not yet advanced can be effectively treated with minimal endoscopic or laparoscopic surgery. However, all NECs and advanced carcinoids should be treated with radical gastrectomy.

Keywords: Gastric carcinoids, Neuroendocrine carcinomas, Typical carcinoids