What are carcinoid tumor symptoms?

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What are carcinoid tumor symptoms?

The symptoms of a carcinoid tumor depend on:

  • Location of the tumor.
  • Severity of disease (how advanced it is).
  • What kinds of hormones the tumor releases.

Many carcinoid tumors don’t cause any symptoms, especially at first. But signs may appear when excess chemicals cause symptoms or when a tumor spreads (metastasizes).

One of the most common symptoms is flushing on your face and neck. Your skin may suddenly become red and hot. Flushing may be triggered by stress, alcohol and certain foods.

Other symptoms may include:

  • Abdominal pain.
  • Anemia (low red blood cells).
  • Diarrhea.
  • Fatigue or weakness.
  • Heart murmur due to heart muscle damage.
  • Jaundice (yellowing of your skin).
  • Low blood pressure (hypotension).
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Rectal bleeding.
  • Shortness of breath (dyspnea).
  • Unexplained weight loss.
  • Wheezing.

A carcinoid tumor also can lead to certain syndromes:

  • If a tumor makes too much cortisol (often called the stress hormone), you can develop Cushing syndrome.
  • If the tumor makes too much gastrin, your body produces too much stomach acid. That can lead to ulcers and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
  • With too much serotonin, you can develop carcinoid syndrome, leading to several symptoms listed above.

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