OCTREOTIDE IN THE TREATMENT OF CARCINOID-SYNDROME SECONDARY TO A METASTATIC SMALL-CELL CARCINOMA

Objective: To report the use of octreotide in the treatment of carcino id syndrome secondary to a metastatic small cell carcinoma. Patient: A 53-year-old man presenting with weight loss and the carcinoid syndrom e with intractable diarrhoea, and raised urinary 5-hydroxyindole aceti c acid excretion. He was found to have metastatic small cell carcinoma . Interventions: The patient was treated with the long-acting somatost atin analogue, octreotide. Results: The patient's signs and symptoms i mproved and his diarrhoea was successfully controlled. Conclusion: Car cinoid syndrome may be the cause of intractable diarrhoea in patients with metastatic small cell carcinoma, and octreotide may be of benefit in its treatment.