Staging -- or determining the stage of disease -- is the process of finding out the extent of disease. It tells us if the tumor has spread, and if it has, how far. To help stage the tumor, doctors may use several types of imaging, endoscopy, or other tests described in the previous section, "How are gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors diagnosed?"

The stage of the tumor, along with the place it started, tell us about the prognosis (outlook) for someone with a gastrointestinal (GI) carcinoid. tumor. These 2 factors also help the doctor decide what treatment to recommend.

GI carcinoid tumors/cancers can start in several different locations, and there is no standard system for describing their spread. Some doctors use the same systems that are used for other cancers of the same organs. Many doctors simply divide GI carcinoid tumors into 3 general stages: localized, regional spread, and distant spread. This approach is fairly easy to understand and can be useful when choosing between treatment options. Because the cells can look the same under the microscope, it might not be possible to tell a tumor from a cancer when it is localized. Any tumor that spreads, though, is a cancer (by definition).

Localized

The cancer has not spread beyond the wall of the organ it started in (for example, the stomach, intestine, or rectum).

Regional spread

The cancer has grown through the wall of the organ where it started to involve nearby tissues such as fat, ligaments, and muscle. It may also have spread to nearby lymph nodes.

Distant spread

The cancer has spread to tissues or organs that are not near the organ where the cancer started (such as the liver, bones, or lungs).

5-year survival rates by stage and primary site

When looking at survival rates, it is important to note that people are not statistics. Every person is different, and every person will have his/her own experience with cancer and its treatment. Cancer statistics are based on patient data from at least 5 to 10 years ago. There may now be more treatment options or more effective options than before.

Five-year survival rates are calculated based on how many patients live at least 5 years after diagnosis of this disease. Many may live much longer than 5 years, but it is the 5-year mark that is used as a standard measurement for statistics and research.

Most GI carcinoids are found when they are still localized, but this does vary based on the organ they start in. Tumors of the stomach, duodenum, appendix, and rectum are likely to be found before they have spread. In contrast, many tumors of the small intestine (the jejunum/ileum) and the colon (including the cecum) have already spread to nearby tissues or lymph nodes or to distant sites at the time of diagnosis.

The following 5-year survival rates are based on people diagnosed with carcinoid (well and moderately differentiated neuroendocrine tumors) between 1988 and 2004:

5-year Survival Rates, by Stage and Primary Site

It is important to keep in mind that the numbers above are merely statistics and they can't predict the outlook for any one person.

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