Carcinoid Tumors  Symptoms

A carcinoid tumor often causes no symptoms  in its early stages and is often found unexpectedly by  a surgeon during an unrelated surgery  or on x-rays for another condition. 

Often,  symptoms of  a gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor only appear if the tumor metastasizes (spreads)  to the liver. In that case, the  hormone-like substances from the tumor can circulate throughout the body and cause carcinoid syndrome (see below), a group of symptoms  that occur in response to hormones being  released by the tumor  into the bloodstream. Intestinal carcinoid tumors are most likely  to cause symptoms. 

People with a  gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor may experience  the following symptoms. Sometimes, people with a gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor do not show any  of these symptoms. Or, these symptoms may be caused by a medical condition that is not cancer. If you are concerned about a symptom on this list, please talk with your doctor. 

• Facial flushing  (redness and warm feeling over the face) 
• Diarrhea 
• Abdominal pain (caused by blockage of the intestines) 
• Asthma 
• Rash 
• Heart disease 
• Intestinal bleeding 
• Pellagra (scale-like skin sores, diarrhea, and mental disturbances) 
• Melena (dark, tarry stools  that contain blood and usually indicate there is bleeding elsewhere in the gastrointestinal tract) 

A carcinoid tumor in the lungs causes symptoms in response  to hormones bypassing the liver  and entering the bloodstream. A lung carcinoid tumor is far less likely to cause carcinoid syndrome (see below) than  a gastrointestinal  carcinoid tumor. 

People with a lung carcinoid tumor  may experience the following symptoms. Sometimes, people with  a lung carcinoid tumor do not show any  of these symptoms. Or, these  symptoms may be caused by a medical condition  that is not cancer. If  you are concerned about a symptom on this list, please talk with  your doctor. 

• Cough (with or without bloody sputum or phlegm) 
• Wheezing
• Post-obstructive pneumonia (when a tumor blocking a large air passage causes an infection) 

Carcinoid syndrome 

Carcinoid syndrome is more common in people who have had a carcinoid tumor for many years. Approximately 60% of people with carcinoid tumors eventually develop carcinoid syndrome. 

People with carcinoid syndrome may experience the following symptoms. Sometimes, people with carcinoid syndrome do not show any of these symptoms. Or, these symptoms may be caused by a medical condition  that is not carcinoid syndrome. If you are concerned about a symptom on this list, please talk with your doctor. 

• Facial flushing 
• Sweating 
• Diarrhea 
• Shortness of breath 
• Wheezing or asthma-like symptoms 
• Fast heartbeat 
• Heart murmur 
• Unexplained  weight gain
• Weakness
• Secondary diabetes 
• Increased body and  facial hair 
• High blood pressure 

Neurosis (a psychologic or behavioral disorder primarily characterized by anxiety) and psychosis (a severe emotional and behavioral disorder that can cause a person’s mental capacity to become very distorted or disorganized, which may interfere with the person’s ability to cope with the demands of everyday life)
Stress, strenuous exercise, and drinking alcohol may worsen these symptoms. 

Carcinoid crisis 

Carcinoid crisis is a term used when all of the symptoms of carcinoid syndrome occur at the same time. Carcinoid crisis is the most serious and life-threatening complication of carcinoid syndrome and is generally found in people who already experienced some symptoms of carcinoid syndrome. Carcinoid crisis may occur suddenly, or it can be associated with stress, chemotherapy, or anesthesia.  A carcinoid crisis may be prevented and successfully treated with octreotide (Sandostatin), a medication that can help to raise low blood pressure and control the production  of hormones. 

Managing symptoms 

Below are some common symptoms of a  carcinoid tumor, followed by information on how each can be managed. Talk with your doctor about each symptom and how it can be treated. For more information on managing common cancer symptoms and treatment side effects, visit Cancer.Net’s section on Managing Side Effects. 

Facial flushing. Avoid stress. Ask your doctor about certain substances and foods, including alcohol, that cause facial flushing, and avoid them. 

Wheezing. Ask your doctor about  the use of a bronchodilator (medication that relaxes the muscles in the lungs to make breathing easier). 

Diarrhea. Ask your doctor about the use of anti-diarrheal medications. 

Carcinoid syndrome. Ask your doctor about the use of octreotide (the most effective single medication against  carcinoid syndrome). 

Heart  problems. Tell your doctor immediately and ask about the use of diuretics (agents that increase the amount of urine; diuretics act by increasing function of the heart).