Neuroendocrine tumors Flashcards
most common location of carcinoid tumors
GI tract 55%
Lungs 35%
symptoms of carcinoid syndrome
flushing diarrhea hypotension pruritis telangiectasias on the face (prolonged vasodilitation)
difference in pulmonary vs gastric NET flushing
gastric - short, patchy, intensely pruritic
pulmonary - hours - days, more severe
biochemical mediators of carcinoid syndrome
serotonin (diarrhea) histamine (flushing, wheezing) kallikrein bradykinin tachykinin prostaglandin
carcinoid syndrome does NOT usually occur with midgut NETs except in which case
extensive liver mets
what vitamin deficiency is associated with carcinoid syndrome
pellagra (vit B3 def) - large amounts of tryptophan are diverted from niacin synthesis to produce serotonin
carcinoid tumors can also cause which endocrine syndromes
cushings (ACTH or CRH producing)
acromegaly (GHRH)
5-HIAA is a metabolite of what
serotonin
metabolism of tryptohpan
tryptophan - serotonin - 5-HIAA
foods/meds that can cause false + 5-HIAA levels
tryptophan, serotonin
diagnosis of carcinoid syndrome
elevated 5-HIAA in urine
which test is NOT recommended in diagnosis of carcinoid syndrome
chromogranin A (nonspecific)
which carcinoids can cause carcinoid syndrome but have normal 5-HIAA levels
foregut carcinoids (lack enzyme to convert tryptophan to serotonin
best imaging to localize NETs
CT
MRI (better to eval for hepatic mets)
Octreoscan
DOTOATATE
what % of carcinoid tumors are metastatic at the time of diagnosis
90%
treatment of carcinoid syndrome
somatostatin analogues telotristat (inhibits rate limiting step in serotonin synthesis) chemo (respond poorly) radioreceptor therapy hepatic resection/embolization