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It is thought that about 11,000 to 12,000 neuroendocrine
tumors and neuroendocrine cancers are diagnosed each year in the United
States. About 2 out of 3 of these occur in the digestive system. Most
of the rest occur in the lungs (see our document Lung Carcinoid Tumors
for more information), although a small number develop in other organs.
The number of carcinoid tumors diagnosed has been increasing
for many years. The reason for this is unknown. Some think it may be a
byproduct of doing more endoscopy and CT scans to look for something
else and finding carcinoid tumors. Since many carcinoids never cause
any symptoms, there are probably many people with carcinoid tumors that
are never found. These tumors may only be seen during an autopsy when a
person dies of something else, or when someone has surgery or imaging
tests for an unrelated condition.
In the digestive system, the most common location of carcinoid
tumors is the small intestine, often in the section near the appendix
(called the ileum). Other common sites include the rectum, the colon
(large intestine), the appendix, and the stomach.
The average age of people diagnosed with carcinoid is early
60s. Carcinoid tumors are more common in African Americans than in
whites, and are slightly more common in women than men.
Last Medical Review: 06/19/2009
Last Revised: 06/19/2009
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