Management of disseminated midgut carcinoid tumours

Forty-one patients with disseminated midgut carcinoid tumours were treated over a 6-year period according to a strict programme including primary surgical treatment. In 10 patients, a total remission of the disease was obtained. Patients with bilobar hepatic disease had ischaemic treatment of their liver metastases by hepatic arterial embolisation after primary surgical and medical treatment (low dose octreotide). Thus, by combining surgical, radiological and medical treatment modalities, we wanted to offer these patients optimal palliation. This treatment programme resulted in good symptomatic relief in all patients accompanied by a marked reduction in 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels. At recurrence of symptoms in combination with rising 5-HIAA levels, embolisation was repeated. Ten of the treated patients have deceased during the observation period, but only 5 from their carcinoid disease.