Email this article 
| World Journal of Oncology, ISSN 1920-4531 print, 1920-454X online, Open Access |
| Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, World J Oncol and Elmer Press Inc |
| Journal website http://www.wjon.org |
Case Report
Volume 3, Number 5, October 2012, pages 239-242
Synchronous Duodenal Carcinoid and Adenocarcinoma of the Colon
Limin Gaoa, Seth Lipkaa, Jorge Hurtado-Cordovia, e, Boris Avezbakiyevb, Alejandro Zurettic, Kaleem Rizvond, Paul Mustacchiad
aDepartment of Internal Medicine, Associated with North Shore- Long Island Jewish Health Care System, Nassau University Medical Center 2201 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow NY 11554, USA
bDepartment of Internal Medicine, division of Hematology/Oncology, Associated with North Shore- Long Island Jewish Health Care System. Nassau University Medical Center 2201 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow NY 11554, USA
cDepartment of Pathology, Associated with North Shore- Long Island Jewish Health Care System, Nassau University Medical Center 2201 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow NY 11554, USA
dDepartment of Internal Medicine, division of Gastroenterology, Associated with North Shore- Long Island Jewish Health Care System, Nassau University Medical Center 2201 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow NY 11554, USA
eCorresponding author: Jorge Hurtado-Cordovi, Department of Internal Medicine, Associated with North Shore- Long Island Jewish Health Care System, Nassau University Medical Center 2201 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow NY 11554, USA.
Manuscript accepted for publication August 9, 2012
Short title: Synchronous Duodenal Carcinoid and Adenocarcinoma of Colon
doi: https://doi.org/10.4021/wjon554w
| Abstract | ▴Top |
Carcinoid tumors are a histological subtype of well differentiated, low to intermediate grade, slow-growing neuroendocrine malignancies capable of secreting bioactive peptides, such as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin), chromogranin-A and chromogranin-C. Here we present a case of a duodenal carcinoid that simultaneously occurred with adenocarcinoma of the colon. A 59-year-old male with a past medical history of hepatitis C and hypertension presented complaining of worsening abdominal pain associated with 2 - 3 episodes per week of bright red blood per rectum for the past month. He also reported a 20 pounds weight loss in the last 6 months. Social history was significant for a 15 pack year history. Vitals on admission were within normal limits. Physical exam was significant for right upper quadrant tenderness without guarding, rebound, or organomegaly. Rectal exam revealed no blood or masses. Laboratory results showed iron deficiency anemia with hemoglobin of 9.6 K/mm3. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a 4 mm duodenal polyp. Colonoscopy was terminated early secondary to a large circumferential obstructing mass found in the descending colon. Immunohistochemistry of the duodenal biopsy was positive for synaptophysin and chromogranin-A; consistent with the diagnosis of stage I carcinoid tumor. Biopsy results of the colonic mass showed a stage I well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent a left colectomy and partial duodenectomy; he remains in remission after 2 year of close follow up. When the diagnosis of small bowel carcinoid is made, further screening for other primary neoplasms should be sought to prevent potential late stage diagnosis of synchronous malignancies. This is crucial because patients’ demise usually result from the associate tumor and not the carcinoid component. Finally, we would like to raise clinician’s awareness regarding the incidence of this entity since some of the studies suggest that it is more common than it was previously thought.
Keywords: Synchronous tumor; Duodenal carcinoid
| Introduction | ▴Top |
Carcinoid tumors are relatively slow-growing neuroendocrine tumors that are capable of secreting bioactive peptides, such as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin), chromogranin-A and chromogranin-C. The most common site for carcinoid tumor origin is the gastrointestinal tract (73-85%) with the majority of patients being asymptomatic [1]. While the occurrence of duodenal carcinoid is only 1.5-5%, its association with synchronous colon adenocarcinoma is rare. We described a case of a duodenal carcinoid that simultaneously occurred with adenocarcinoma of the colon [1-2].
| Case Report | ▴Top |
A 59-year-old male with a past medical history of hepatitis C and hypertension presented complaining of worsening abdominal pain associated with bright red blood per rectum for the past month. The pain was 7/10 in intensity, constant, non-radiating, with no alleviating or aggravating factors. He admits having 2 - 3 episodes of bloody stools per week. He also reported a 20 pounds weight loss in the last 6 months. Review of systems was otherwise negative. Social history was significant for a 15 pack year history. He denied family history gastrointestinal malignancies. Vitals on admission were within normal limits. Physical exam was significant for right upper quadrant tenderness without guarding, rebound, or organomegaly. Rectal exam revealed no blood or masses. Laboratory results showed iron deficiency anemia with hemoglobin of 9.6 K/mm3. Liver related tests and coagulation profile were within normal limits. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a 4mm duodenal polyp (Fig. 1). Colonoscopy was terminated early secondary to a large circumferential obstructing mass (Fig. 2) found in the descending colon. Immunohistochemistry of the duodenal biopsy was positive for synaptophysin and chromogranin-A (Fig. 3); consistent with the diagnosis of stage I carcinoid tumor. Biopsy results of the colonic mass showed a stage I well-differentiated adenocarcinoma (Fig. 4). The patient underwent a left colectomy and partial duodenectomy. He remains in remission after 2 year of close follow up.
 Click for large image | Figure 1. A 4 mm duodenal polyp found during endoscopy. |
 Click for large image | Figure 2. A large circumferential obstructing mass located 40 cm away from the anal verge with areas of hemorrhages (arrow). |
 Click for large image | Figure 3. Immunohistochemistry stain positive for chromogranin-A (arrow), suggesting the diagnosis of carcinoid malignancy (200 ×). |
 Click for large image | Figure 4. H&E stain of the descending colon biopsy showing atypical cells with pleomorphic nucleus suggesting the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma (400 ×). |
| Discussion | ▴Top |
In the gastrointestinal tract, carcinoid tumors are found most often in the jejunum(13.4-17.6%), rectum(10-18.5%), colon(7.6-9.5%) and appendix(2.4-7.6%); with duodenal carcinoids accounting for less than 2% of all carcinoids [2, 3]. The annual incidence of duodenal carcinoids is 0.07/100,000 [4]. Carcinoid tumors can present with a variety of clinical symptoms and are difficult to diagnose. However, most carcinoids have an asymptomatic, indolent course with late metastases. Furthermore, 80% of cases present with the classic carcinoid syndrome symptoms, likely because up 91% are found to have distant metastases at the time of diagnosis. The liver is the most common site of metastasis. These symptoms are due to increased production of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and include flushing, diarrhea, palpitations, spasmodic abdominal pain and bronchial constriction. Diagnosis depends on histopathological examination and positive reactions to neuroendocrine markers such as synaptophysin, neuron-specific enolase, and glycoprotein chromogranin A. The rapid technological advancements such as endoscopic procedures, ultrasound(US), computed tomography(CT), magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), positron emission tomography(PET), and radio labeled somatostatin receptor scintigraphy(SRS, OctreoScan), have enhanced significantly the diagnosis of carcinoid tumors allowing for a more accurate delineation of metastases. The five year survival dependent on the stage and location of the tumor; with only a 25% survival for patients with metastasis, compared to an 88% for those with local disease [5, 6].
Multiple factors must be taken into consideration when planning therapy. Well-differentiated, nonfunctional duodenal carcinoids that are limited to the mucosa/submucosa and are no more than 10 mm in size can be endoscopically removed. In these cases the preferred procedure to achieve complete excision of the tumor is endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). Larger masses (10 - 20 mm) with similar characteristics as above can be removed by endoscopy or surgery. Surgical management is the treatment of choice for duodenal carcinoids that are nonfunctional but more than 20 mm in size. Tumors extending beyond the submucosa (T2-T4) or that have metastasized to lymph nodes should be managed surgically [7-9].
The incidence of synchronous tumors of the colon ranges from 2 to 11 percent [10]. While adenocarcinomas are the most common colorectal malignancy, the incidence of carcinoid malignant tumors is 1-4/1,000,000 per year [11]. According to the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, National Cancer Institute, USA), 29% of patients with gastrointestinal carcinoid had an additional malignancy. Gerstle et al studied 69 patients with gastrointestinal tract carcinoids and found that 29 of them (42%) had a synchronous tumor, with colorectal adenocarcinoma being the most common associate malignancy. Berge and Linell reported that out of 199 patients with carcinoid tumor 81 (40.7%) had one or more coexisting synchronous malignancy with up to 35.8% of the accompanying neoplasm occurring in the gastrointestinal tract. Most of the patients with synchronous malignancies had no symptoms relating to the carcinoid tumor. Asymptomatic duodenal carcinoids are usually small and confine to the submucosa; therefore, it is possible to perform a segmental intestinal resection as it was done in our case. Whenever a synchronous tumor with a non-metastatic carcinoid component is encounter, its prognosis is determined by the associate malignancy, and the vast majority of patients succumb to the non-carcinoid constituent [12-16].
In conclusion, when the diagnosis of small bowel carcinoid is made, further screening for other primary neoplasms should be sought to prevent potential late stage diagnosis of synchronous malignancies. This is crucial because patients’ demise usually result from the associate tumor and not the carcinoid component. Finally, we would like to raise clinician’s awareness regarding the incidence of this entity since some of the studies suggest that it is more common than it was previously thought.
Conflict of Interest
All cited authors have read this case report and have directly contributed to its development. This manuscript has never been published, and is not under consideration for publishing in any other journal. Pictures can be published in black and white. This article did not receive any funding from any institution.
| References | ▴Top |
- Babovic-Vuksanovic D, Constantinou CL, Rubin J, Rowland CM, Schaid DJ, Karnes PS. Familial occurrence of carcinoid tumors and association with other malignant neoplasms. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 1999;8(8):715-719.
pubmed - Modlin IM, Sandor A. An analysis of 8305 cases of carcinoid tumors. Cancer. 1997;79(4):813-829.
pubmed doi - Soga J. Early-stage carcinoids of the gastrointestinal tract: an analysis of 1914 reported cases. Cancer. 2005;103(8):1587-1595.
pubmed doi - Oberg K: Gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors (gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors) and the carcinoid syndrome; in Feldman M, Friedman L, Brandt L (eds): Sleisenger and Fordtran’s Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, ed 9. Philadelphia, Elsevier/Saunders, 2010, 475–490.
- Soga J, Yakuwa Y, Osaka M. Carcinoid syndrome: a statistical evaluation of 748 reported cases. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 1999;18(2):133-141.
pubmed - McDermott EW, Guduric B, Brennan MF. Prognostic variables in patients with gastrointestinal carcinoid tumours. Br J Surg. 1994;81(7):1007-1009.
pubmed doi - Hoffmann KM, Furukawa M, Jensen RT. Duodenal neuroendocrine tumors: Classification, functional syndromes, diagnosis and medical treatment. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2005;19(5):675-697.
pubmed doi - Shimizu N, Kaminishi M. [Management of patients with neuroendocrine tumors of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum]. Nihon Geka Gakkai Zasshi. 2008;109(3):147-151.
pubmed - Scherubl H, Schwertner C, Steinberg J, Stolzel U, Pohl J, Dralle H, Kloppel G. [Neuroendocrine tumors of the small bowels are on the rise: early tumors and their management]. Z Gastroenterol. 2010;48(3):406-413.
pubmed doi - Slater G, Aufses AH
Jr , Szporn A. Synchronous carcinoma of the colon and rectum. Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1990;171(4):283-287.
pubmed - Hiripi E, Bermejo JL, Sundquist J, Hemminki K. Familial gastrointestinal carcinoid tumours and associated cancers. Ann Oncol. 2009;20(5):950-954.
pubmed doi - Modlin IM, Lye KD, Kidd M. A 5-decade analysis of 13,715 carcinoid tumors. Cancer. 2003;97(4):934-959.
pubmed doi - Gerstle JT, Kauffman GL
Jr , Koltun WA. The incidence, management, and outcome of patients with gastrointestinal carcinoids and second primary malignancies. J Am Coll Surg. 1995;180(4):427-432.
pubmed - Berge T, Linell F. Carcinoid tumours. Frequency in a defined population during a 12-year period. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand A. 1976;84(4):322-330.
pubmed - Srilatha PS. Concurrence of duodenal carcinoid and diffuse gastric adenocarcinoma: a rare phenomenon. Saudi J Gastroenterol. 2007;13(4):197-199.
pubmed doi - McCabe HL. Adenocarcinoma of the gastro-oesophageal junction with a synchronous carcinoid of the duodenum. Postgrad Med J. 2001;77(906):255-256.
pubmed doi
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
World Journal of Oncology is published by Elmer Press Inc.