Carcinoid tumor of the kidney - The use of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy in diagnosis and management

Three patients were diagnosed with carcinoid tumors of the kidney. The diag nosis was rendered after biopsy with the assistance of immunohistochemical stains. In all three patients, a pentetreotide scan was helpful in staging. Metastatic disease that was not evident by computed tomography was found i n one patient. All three patients are alive with stable or slowly progressi ve disease at 33, 36, and 40 months. Carcinoid tumors arising from the kidn ey an rare but must be considered in the differential diagnosis of a renal mass. Immunohistochemical staining is important in the diagnosis of these t umors and the pentetreotide scan contributes to accurate staging. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.