Carcinoid Tumors

[aweaver47]

Is it possible for a barium-swallow/upper GI test to come back normal but still have a carcinoid tumor? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[ramiller]

Does an upper GI scan the colon, rectum and or ileum? I believe most carcinoids appear in those areas.

[stephalee]

I think it very much depends on the site of the tumour. If it is in your bowel, then an upper GI series is not likely to show it up (as it is only showing barium contrast in the oesophagus, stomach and first part of the duodenum).

[family1317]

hi, im new to this website,but i recently been diagonised with carcinoid symdrome and absolutely not does the barium show a tumor in the colon..for this test in the upper gi is what i have had done several times already...You have to have a colonoscopy done...i had a complete hysterectomy and a colon resection done and a appendix removal so there are several tests that had to be preformed to know exactly where the tumors are located...im only 34 female, and i just got back from MD Anderson Hospital in Houston,Tx. where i met with the worlds best carcinoid doctors in the world..learned alot of things i didnt know about the cancer,,,these tumors will not show up on a regular x-ray or ct.scan until the tumors have reached a certain size,,this is why i went on for over 2 years suffering with severe flushing,diahrreaha,tired all the time and the cramping was unbelievable and the pains in my mid section were unbearable...well needless to say when the tumors were found and i was correctly diagonised with this is when i found out this had spread into my liver 8-9 tumors and im currently fixing to start clinicial trials in jan.09 very scared but ready to face this cancer head on because they dont give us a good span of life should i say...i take sanostatin 4x times a day(do my own injections) and let me say if the first docotrs in my local hospital knew a little more about this disease i know with out a doubt we would have caught it in time before it spread through out my body,,but so little is known about carcinoid symdrome they didnt know what to look for...if i can help you in any other way or maybe answer any ?'s please feel free to emial me --[moderator note: e-mail address has been removed] and i will try my best to do what i can..i was diagonised in april of this year.....thanks shea

[MarineMom500]

I am 47 yr Fm and mine was found in the appendix when it burst, my question to you is when they found the tumor's in the Liver had your Liver enlarged ? the reason Im asking is my Liver has enlarged to 23 cm and the spleen has enlarged now as well. They have scaned both and said that there is one (1) spot on the Liver they believe is a (Fatty Deposit) but not sure, and want to Bio it soon. all my blood work has came back fine but for me being anemic and my potassum level are low. if you would like to e-mail me [moderator note: e-mail address has been removed] Im truly sorry anyone has to go through this. God be with us all. Thank you for any help.

[exculiberv]

I'm not an expert but I will share my knowldge based on my readings on different articles from the net and books. My answer is Yes it is possible the result would be normal because the procedure is not conclusive. You need to have PET scan with contrast media to know where is the carcinoid tumour and the definitive diagnosis is biopsy. If they found the tumour a tissue is needed to be taken for analysis then can confirme if its a carcinoid or not. I hope this info help in a little way. Some other test could be your 24 urine for 5HIAA analysis level this is a by product of carcinoid tumour blood works cromoganin A and B, Thanks

[exculiberv]

Hi I'm Archie I will share my experience about carcinoid and hopefully will help you to understand some of it. I had series of investigation to find out what's wrong with my body. I had endoscopy and colocoscopy done and both results were normal. The investigation to confirm the diagnosis is biopsy where a sample of tissue is taken and analyze it under microscope. I also had white cell scan where a small amount of blood taken from you and the white blood will be separated from the red then incorporate it with a small doce of radio active material then injected back to you then pet and ct scan afetr a series of hours waiting. This they found out that I have tumour on my liver and it was confirm by ultrasound then we proceeded to liver biopsy where they found my tumour. When we knew I have carcinoid then I was subjected to more diagnostic test. I had a Ytrium 90 with octreotide and MIBG these are the two new tests for carcinois which all your tumour will light on the pet scan and ct scan where interpet the anatomy to pinpoint the exact location. A series of blood works need to be done like somastatin level, chomagranin A and B, Ki-67. Urine collection for 24 hours for your 5HIAA to check activity of carcinoid. I hope this will help. Take care.