Lung carcinoid tumors are not common, and there are no widely recommended screening tests for these tumors in most people. (Screening is testing for cancer in people without any symptoms.) People with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) are at increased risk for these tumors, and some doctors recommend computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest in these people every 3 years starting at age 20.

Because carcinoid tumors usually grow and spread slowly, most are found at an early or localized stage. Many patients with peripheral carcinoid tumors or with small central carcinoid tumors have no symptoms. Carcinoids that do not cause symptoms often are found on a chest x-ray done during a routine exam or to look into unrelated medical problems, such as some heart diseases.

Last Medical Review: 03/09/2009
Last Revised: 03/09/2009