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Chin Med J (Taipei) 1996;58:254-8.
1Department of Medicine, Chia-Yi Veterans Hospital, Chia-Yi; 2Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine; 3Department of Pathology, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei; and 4National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Background. Gastrointestinal carcinoids are uncommon and potentially metastasizing neoplasms. Many series have been reported but few of them concern Chinese people. In this paper we present data on 50 Chinese with gastrointestinal carcinoids, firing in Taiwan, to analyze their clinical features and prognostic factors.
Methods. From 1971 to 1995, 50 Chinese patients with primary gastrointestinal carcinoids were seen at Veterans General Hospital-Taipei. All patients had pathological proof of carcinoids.
Results. There were 35 males and 15 females with a mean age of 55.9 +/- 2.1 years (range 20-76). The primary sites of the tumors, in order of frequency, were rectum (66%), duodenum (14%), stomach (8%), appendix (4%), ileum (4%), colon (2%) and cecum (2%). The cumulative 5-year survival rate was 73%. Carcinoids >= 2 cm in diameter were more frequently symptomatic and metastatic, and tended to have a lower survival rate than those < 2 cm in diameter (p = 0.06). Carcinoids which had invaded the serosa were more frequently symptomatic and metastatic, and had a lower survival rate than intramural carcinoids (p < 0.05).
Conclusions. Rectal carcinoids were the most common gastrointestinal carcinoids in the Chinese living in Taiwan. Carcinoids >= 2 cm and carcinoids invading the serosa correlated well with symptom presentations and metastases. Intramural carcinoids had a better prognosis than carcinoids invading the serosa. Carcinoids < 2cm was a potentially positive factor of prognosis.
[Chin Med J (Taipei) 1996;58:254-8.]
Keywords: carcinoid tumors, gastrointestinal tract, neuroendocrine tumors
Received: September 13, 1995.
Accepted: June 7, 1996.
Reprint requests to:
Sun-Sang Wang, M.D.
Division of Gastroenterology
Department of Medicine
Veterans General Hospital-Taipei
No. 201, Sec. 2, Shih-Pai Road
Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Copyright: 1996, Chinese Medical Association (Taipei)