Neuroendocrine tumors are divided into two main categories: aggressive and indolent. Large cell and small cell neuroendocrine tumors are considered aggressive, while carcinoid tumors are considered indolent. This article discusses carcinoid tumors of the colon and rectum.
The term "carcinoid tumor" was coined in 1907 by Siegfried Oberndorfer, a scientist who wanted to designate the tumor as cancer-ish. It doesn't qualify as a benign tumor since it has the ability to metastasize; but it also grows very slowly and seldom spreads, which makes it more benign than most cancers.
A carcinoma is a cancerous tumor and the suffix "-oid" is used to indicate that something resembles something else. So, the term Oberndorfer came up with, "carcinoid tumor," described a tumor that was "cancerous tumor-like."
In reality, carcinoid tumors are cancers, but the name "carcinoid" has stuck to this day.
Carcinoid tumors are about twice as likely to occur in the rectum than in the colon. They grow slowly and have about a 1/300,000 chance of metastasizing. However, if carcinoid tumors do spread, they sometimes cause carcinoid syndrome. Consequences of the syndrome can include flushing (especially after coffee or alcohol), diarrhea, and asthma.
Although carcinoid tumors are the most common type of neuroendocrine tumor, they account for less than one percent of all colorectal cancers.
Other Types of Colorectal Cancer:- Adenocarcinoma
- Aggressive Neuroendocrine Tumor
- Leiomyosarcoma
- Lymphoma
- Malignant Melanoma
- Mucinous Adenocarcinoma
- Signet Ring Cell Adenocarcinoma
Sources:
A Review of Carcinoid Cancer. Carcinoid Cancer Foundation. Jan 2005. 5 Jul. 2006 [http://www.carcinoid.org/pcf/docs/review.html].
Spread, C. and Berkel, H. "Colon Carcinoid Tumors. A Population-Based Study." Diseases of the Colon and Rectum 37.5 (May 1994): 482-491. PubMed. 5 Jul. 2006 [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8181412&dopt=Abstract].
