MIDGUT CARCINOID-TUMORS - CT APPEARANCE

CT was performed on 80 patients referred for staging and treatment of histologically verified midgut carcinoid tumours. In 17 cases (21%) CT was normal in spite of biochemical signs of tumour (increased U-5-HIA A). The most common finding was liver metastases in 54/80 (68%) of pat ients. Mesenteric metastases, usually as a soft tissue mass at the mes enteric root, were found in 17/80 (21%). Retroperitoneal adenopathy wa s found in 19/80 (24%). During a follow-up time of 3 months to 10 year s (median 3 years) 445 additional CT examinations were performed on 77 patients. In 39 of these, progressive disease (new lesions) was found after a median time of 15 months (range 3 months-6.5 years). CT is po or in detecting primary carcinoid tumours but helpful in evaluating th e extent of tumour spread before surgical exploration and during follo w-up once the diagnosis has been established.