Duodenal carcinoid: a rare cause of melaena in a cirrhotic patient

Shelat VG, Diddapur RK
Correspondence: Dr Ravishankar K Diddapur, ravi_diddapur@hotmail.com

ABSTRACT
Small intestinal neuroendocrine tumours are relatively rare. Laboratory tests and diagnostic imaging are of help in diagnosis. Surgical resection is the standard approach. Metastatic disease has a poor prognosis. These are indolent tumours and hence role of chemotherapy is limited. Radionuclide and biological therapies are emerging. We report a 29-year-old man presenting with melaena and diagnosed as having a neuroendocrine tumour of the duodenum together with liver cirrhosis. Standard Whipple's procedure was done and he is doing well at follow-up.

Keywords: carcinoid tumour, chromogranin A, carcinoid crisis, duodenal carcinoma, neuroendocrine tumour
Singapore Med J 2008; 49(8): e198-201