Carcinoid diathesis of the ileum

An unusually large number (108) of carcinoids was discovered in the ileum of a 63-year-old male. The clustering and size distribution of tumor nodules suggests that the phenomenon reflects mucosal metastasis from a dominant parent tumor rather than multicentric neoplastic foci. A predilection for the antimesenteric mucosa was also observed and may be related to mucosal lymphatic spread of the carcinoid tumor.