Surgical treatment of functioning metastatic carcinoid tumors

Thirteen patients with functioning carcinoid syndrome and hepatic metastases were surgically treated. Localized hepatic metastases were resected in five patients, and diffuse hepatic metastases were treated with hepatic artery ligation in eight. There were no postoperative deaths, and follow-up ranged from six to 46 months. All patients were symptom-free after operation. In all patients with resection, levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) returned to normal or near normal, whereas in patients who underwent hepatic artery ligation, the average reduction in 5-HIAA level was 76%. Three patients died during the follow-up period--two of metastatic carcinoids and one without evidence of disease. The mean duration of response was 36 months for resection and 4.8 months for hepatic artery ligation. The addition of postoperative intra-arterial chemotherapy and sequential systemic chemotherapy may enhance the response to hepatic artery ligation.