Carcinoid tumor in Meckel's diverticulum: laparoscopic treatment and review of the literature.

Meckel's diverticulum is a common anomaly of the small intestine that occurs in approximately 2% of the population, often found incidentally at the time of abdominal exploration. Carcinoid tumors in a Meckel's diverticulum have been reported in only 111 cases. The author describes a patient who presented for elective cholecystectomy and who during laparoscopy was found to have an abnormal-appearing ileal diverticulum. The resected specimen contained a carcinoid tumor. The decision-making process in treating these patients is reviewed along with a discussion of the laparoscopic treatment of intra-abdominal pathologic conditions found incidentally at the time of elective surgery.