Carcinoid syndrome

Carcinoid syndrome is a paraneoplastic clinical condition caused by the systemic release of bioactive substances—predominantly serotonin, along with tachykinins, prostaglandins, and histamine—from well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors It primarily affects adults with advanced neuroendocrine tumors originating in the gastrointestinal tract, especially the midgut, typically after metastasis to the liver bypasses normal first-pass hepatic metabolism Pathophysiologically, the circulation of thes...

Carcinoid syndrome is a paraneoplastic clinical condition caused by the systemic release of bioactive substances—predominantly serotonin, along with tachykinins, prostaglandins, and histamine—from well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors Chronic exposure to high circulating serotonin levels can further lead to severe complications, such as retroperitoneal fibrosis and carcinoid heart disease characterized by fibrotic thickening of the right-sided cardiac valves

It primarily affects adults with advanced neuroendocrine tumors originating in the gastrointestinal tract, especially the midgut, typically after metastasis to the liver bypasses normal first-pass hepatic metabolism Pathophysiologically, the circulation of these vasoactive mediators triggers hallmark clinical manifestations, including episodic cutaneous flushing of the face and upper chest, secretory diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and bronchospasm

It primarily affects adults with advanced neuroendocrine tumors originating in the gastrointestinal tract, especially the midgut, typically after metastasis to the liver bypasses normal first-pass hepatic metabolism

Pathophysiologically, the circulation of these vasoactive mediators triggers hallmark clinical manifestations, including episodic cutaneous flushing of the face and upper chest, secretory diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and bronchospasm