Question 1

what is the probability of a carcinoid tumor bursting?

Accepted Answer

Very Low: Carcinoid tumors are solid masses and unless they have died (necrosed) the chance of one bursting is very very unlikely.

Question 2

are the symptoms of carcinoid tumors bad?

Accepted Answer

Not always!: The most common place to have a carcinoid is the appendix.  When the tumor is there, and most of the other common locations which are in the intestinal tract, you don't feel anything because the liver removes the hormones the tumors produce.  Only when the tumors are large, outside the intestinal tract, or metastatic do the symptoms occur.  They can get very bad then.

Question 3

how unusual is a renal carcinoid tumor?

Accepted Answer

VERY uncommon: Primary carcinoid tumor of the kidney is a very rare tumor.  The current world health organization classification of tumors of the kidney (iarc press, lyon 2004) says that only about 50 cases have been reported in the world's literature.  Hope that this helps.

Question 4

are carcinoid tumors linked to asbestos?

Accepted Answer

No: There is no relationship between carcinoids and asbestos.

Question 5

can you tell me the life expectancy ranges based on for carcinoid tumors?

Accepted Answer

Long yet variable: Carcinoid tumors are slow growing cancers which can exist in the body for 10-20+ years without causing a major threat to life. But this depends on where they are located and if they have spread to the liver or not. Liver spread does lead to increasing problems and some fatal outcomes, typically after 5 to 10+ years. It has a highly variable prognosis.

Question 6

is carcinoid tumor the same thing as cancer?

Accepted Answer

Yes: A carcinoid tumor is a specific type of malignancy developing from neuroendocrine tissues.

Question 7

can you have a carcinoid tumor on the lung, not in the lung?

Accepted Answer

Yes: I am guessing from your question, but yes there can be pulmonary and bronchial carcinoid tumors. They are both a type of lung tumor that can be benign or cancerous. They can occur in the lung or "on" the lung in the breathing tube to the lung. These are relatively rare tumors.

Question 8

are carcinoid tumors benign?

Accepted Answer

No: Carcinoid tumors are not benign. They are typically  (but not always) slower growing than other tumors. They can spread if not found and therefore should be removed.

Question 9

what are carcinoid tumors / syndrome?

Accepted Answer

Neuroendocrine tumor: It is a relatively benign type of tumor that can secrete a variety of hormones, most notably serotonin. They are most commonly found in the gut or the lungs. They do not come from the lining of the lungs or the gut (as adenocarcinomata do). They come from a different line of cells.

Carcinoid syndrome occurs when large amounts of serotonin get into the bloodstream, assoc with flushing and diarrhea.

Question 10

what are the tests for carcinoid tumors?

Accepted Answer

Biopsy: Confirmation of diagnosis is via a biopsy; other tests include blood tests (blood counts, chemistries, serotonin, chromogranin), urine tests (for 5hiaa) as well as ct scans and octreotide scans.

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What is the probability of a carcinoid tumor bursting

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What is the probability of a carcinoid tumor bursting?

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Are the symptoms of carcinoid tumors bad?

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How unusual is a renal carcinoid tumor?

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Are carcinoid tumors linked to asbestos?

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Can you tell me the life expectancy ranges based on for carcinoid tumors?

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Is carcinoid tumor the same thing as cancer?

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Can you have a carcinoid tumor on the lung, not in the lung?

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Are carcinoid tumors benign?

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What are carcinoid tumors / syndrome?

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What are the tests for carcinoid tumors?

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