Carcinoid Cancer

If a person has symptoms that suggest a carcinoid tumor, his or her doctor will first take a medical history and perform a physical exam. A number of tests can be performed to help determine the cause of the symptoms. These may include:

• Barium studies, which help determine if there are abnormalities in the upper or lower parts of the gastrointestinal tract. This procedure involves the administration of a barium-containing liquid, which coats the digestive tract and shows up on an x-ray film.
• Endoscopy, which uses a flexible lighted tube with a video camera on the end to allow viewing of the digestive tract. An upper endoscopy allows viewing of the esophagus, stomach, and upper part of the small intestine. A colonoscopy, a type of endoscopy, allows viewing of the part of the large intestine known as the colon.
• Computed tomography (CT) scan, a type of x-ray procedure that provides detailed images of internal organs.
• Biopsy, whereby a sample of a tumor or tissue is removed and examined under a microscope. Biopsies can often be done during an endoscopy procedure.
• Blood and urine tests, which can determine whether there are excessive levels of various hormones that are produced by carcinoid tumors.

If a diagnosis of carcinoid tumor is made, additional procedures may be performed to determine if the tumor has spread to other areas of the body.

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