Multifocal carcinoid tumor resembling a solitary tumor: report of a case

A laparotomy was performed on a 44-year-old male patient with an acute abdomen who had findings suggestive of acute appendicitis and a periappendicular abscess. A histopathological examination revealed a carcinoid tumor infiltrating the intestinal serosa. The distal ileum and cecum were infiltrated with more than 40 multifocal tumors, with the largest measuring 1 cm in size. The distal ileum and cecum were resected. We failed to find any distant metastases either peroperatively or during postoperative scintigraphic tests. In addition, the patient had no symptoms of carcinoid syndrome either before or after surgery. No recurrence was experienced. We thus conclude that primary multifocal carcinoid tumors may act as a solitary carcinoid tumor, and the largest tumor tends to indicate the overall clinical outcome.