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Carcinoid Crisis

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Endocrine Surgery Comprehensive Board Exam Guide

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Abstract

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) can produce multiple hormones of which 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) is the most recognized. Carcinoid syndrome (CS) may develop in patients with hormone-producing NETs when systemic hormone levels are elevated. The overproduction of hormones leads to CS symptoms and stimulates fibrosis, which can cause carcinoid-associated complications such as mesenteric fibrosis and carcinoid heart disease, and patients may develop anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairment. Management of CS focuses on reducing serotonin levels with somatostatin analogs (SSAs). Carcinoid crisis is a potentially life-threatening complication in patients with hormone-producing NETs, and this chapter reviews consideration for management of such patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gastrointestinal Tumor Program, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Alexandra Gangi

  2. University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA

    James R. Howe

Authors
  1. Alexandra Gangi
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  2. James R. Howe
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to James R. Howe .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, NJ, USA

    Alexander L. Shifrin

  2. Division of Endocrine and Metabolic Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy

    Marco Raffaelli

  3. The Claire and John Bertucci Endowed Chair in Thyroid Surgical Oncology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Gregory W. Randolph

  4. Department of Surgery, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden

    Oliver Gimm

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Gangi, A., Howe, J.R. (2021). Carcinoid Crisis. In: Shifrin, A.L., Raffaelli, M., Randolph, G.W., Gimm, O. (eds) Endocrine Surgery Comprehensive Board Exam Guide. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84737-1_43

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84737-1_43

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-84736-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-84737-1

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