Carcinoid tumor

Carcinoid tumor is a slow-growing cancer that can appear in several places in the body Carcinoid tumors belong to the group of neuroendocrine tumors Cancer usually starts in the digestive system (stomach, colon, small intestine, large intestine, rectum) or lungs

Carcinoid tumor is not detected symptomatically in the initial stages of the disease The tumor may produce and release certain hormones, which then cause symptoms such as diarrhea or reddening of the skin.

Treatment for carcinoid tumors includes surgery and sometimes medications

It is not known what causes carcinoid tumors to develop In general, cancer develops due to the presence of mutations in the DNA of the cell With mutations, the cell grows and divides out of control, while a normal cell should die

Clumps of cells form a tumor Cancer cells damage nearby healthy tissues and spread to other parts of the body

It is unknown what causes the appearance of mutations characteristic of carcinoid tumors Carcinoid tumors arise in neuroendocrine cells

Neuroendocrine cells are found in various organs of the body These cells perform nervous and hormonal functions Cortisol, histamine, insulin and serotonin are produced in neuroendocrine cells.