Radiopathological review of small bowel carcinoid tumours

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Endocrinology
• Oncology

Background:

• Small bowel carcinoid tumors are a subtype of neuroendocrine tumors originating in the gastrointestinal tract.
• These tumors arise from enterochromaffin cells and can secrete various hormones, leading to distinct clinical syndromes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of small bowel carcinoid tumors.
• To detail the pathology, clinical presentation, treatment options, and prognosis.
• To illustrate the characteristic imaging findings across multiple radiological and nuclear medicine techniques.

Main Methods:

• This is a pictorial essay, relying on illustrative examples.
• Review of existing literature on small bowel carcinoid tumors.
• Compilation of radiographic, computed tomographic (CT), sonographic, magnetic resonance (MR), and nuclear medicine images.

Main Results:

• Pathological classification and grading of small bowel carcinoid tumors.
• Description of common clinical manifestations, including carcinoid syndrome.
• Discussion of current treatment strategies, including surgery and medical management.
• Detailed presentation of imaging appearances: radiographic (barium studies), CT, US, MR, and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (e.g., Octreoscan).

Conclusions:

• Accurate diagnosis and staging of small bowel carcinoid tumors rely on a combination of clinical, pathological, and advanced imaging techniques.
• Multimodality imaging is crucial for delineating tumor extent, identifying metastases, and guiding treatment decisions.
• Understanding the diverse imaging features aids in early detection and improved patient outcomes.