Carcinoid syndrome refers to a spectrum of symptoms that result from excessive hormone (mainly serotonin) secretion.
Epidemiology
Occurs equally between the sexes, most commonly in the 40-70 year age group 3.
Clinical presentation
Diarrhoea is the most common and earliest symptom but others include flushing, right heart failure, pain and bronchospasm 4.
Pathology
Carcinoid syndrome can occur as a paraneoplastic syndrome in the context of a carcinoid tumour, most commonly a gastrointestinal tract carcinoid.
The presence of the carcinoid syndrome often indicates hepatic metastatic disease, usually from a primary bowel carcinoid tumour.