Carcinoid tumors of the abdomen: CT features

Carcinoid tumors are rare neuroendocrine neoplasms that belong to a more ge neral category of tumor called the APUDomas. Ninety percent of carcinoid tu mors are located in the gastrointestinal tract. Abdominal carcinoid tumors are categorized according to the division of the primitive gut from which t hey arise. Carcinoid tumors originating from the foregut develop in the gas tric wall, duodenum, and pancreas; those originating from the midgut develo p from the small bowel, appendix, and right colon; and those originating fr om the hindgut develop from the transverse or left colon or from the rectum . This report illustrates the computed tomographic appearance of primary an d metastatic carcinoid tumors of the abdomen. Among the different organs th at may be involved by metastases from carcinoid tumor, special emphasis is placed on the liver.