Carcinoid heart disease: current understanding and future directions.

Publication/Presentation Date

6-1-2014

Abstract

Carcinoid tumors are rare and aggressive malignancies. A multitude of vasoactive agents are central to the systemic effects of these tumors. The additional burden of cardiac dysfunction heralds a steep decline in quality of life and survival. Unfortunately, by the time carcinoid syndrome surfaces clinically, the likelihood of cardiac involvement is 50%. Although medical therapies such as somatostatin analogues may provide some symptom relief, they offer no mortality benefit. On the other hand, referral to surgery following early detection has shown increased survival. The prompt recognition of this disease is therefore of the utmost importance.

Volume

167

Issue

6

First Page

789

Last Page

795

ISSN

1097-6744

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

24890526

Department(s)

Department of Medicine

Document Type

Article

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