Because carcinoid tumors usually grow and spread slowly, about half of all gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors are found at an early or localized stage, usually before they cause any problems.

Incidental diagnosis of carcinoid tumors

In many cases, carcinoid tumors are found incidentally (by accident). These tumors aren't causing any symptoms but are found during tests done for other diseases. They may also be found when parts of the digestive system are removed to treat other diseases.

For example, a person with stomach pain or bleeding may have a test called an upper endoscopy to look for an ulcer. In this test, the doctor looks at the stomach lining through a flexible lighted tube. During this test, the doctor may notice a small bump in the stomach wall that turns out to be a carcinoid tumor.

Sometimes during colorectal cancer screening a routine sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy (looking at the large bowel through a flexible lighted tube) will incidentally find a small carcinoid tumor.

Sometimes when the appendix is removed (to treat appendicitis or as part of a larger operation), a small carcinoid is found at the tip. This happens in about 1 of every 300 people who have appendix surgery done for other diseases. In most of these cases, the carcinoid was too small to have caused any symptoms.

Last Medical Review: 06/19/2009
Last Revised: 06/19/2009