Familiar cases of carcinoid tumours that are not associated with any known
syndrome or disease are extremely rare. All cases reported in the world lit
erature have involved carcinoid rumours of the gastrointestinal tract. Two
cases of carcinoid rumours of the small intestine in a father and daughter
are presented. Laboratory analyses did not support the hypothesis that the
occurrence of carcinoid tumours in this family is a variant of the multiple
endocrine neoplasia type I syndrome. A review of the literature on familia
l occurrence of intestinal carcinoid rumours in the absence of any other kn
own carcinoid tumour-predisposing genetic syndrome is provided.