Carcinoid tumors of the gastrointestinal tract

This study is based on a review of the records of 107 patients with primary carcinoids of the gastrointestinal tract diagnosed at the Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases during the 20 years from 1948 to 1968. The tumors were classified into two major groups according to their gross and pathologic presentation, and were correlated with clinical behavior and treatment. Carcinoids which were still intramural in location were usually asymptomatic, and yielded successfully to local excision (85% 5-year overall survival); carcinoids which had invaded into the serosa and/or beyond were usually symptomatic, and hd much poorer results (5% overall 5-year result), despite radical surgery with or without palliative radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.