Carcinoid tumors of Meckel's diverticula. Report of two cases and review of the literature.

Two cases of carcinoid tumors in Meckel's diverticula are reported. Additionally, data of 104 published cases of carcinoids in this rare location are analyzed. The average age of the patients is 56.6 years and corresponds to the age of patients with ileal carcinoids. Carcinoids in Meckel's diverticula also resemble ileal carcinoids in their biological behavior more than they do appendiceal carcinoids. Tumors larger than 5 mm have a marked risk to metastasize. By the time symptoms are present, 77 percent of these tumors have already metastasized. Men are affected by this tumor 2.5 times more often than women. Carcinoids in Meckel's diverticula metastasize twice as often in female as in male patients. More than 70 percent of carcinoids in Meckel's diverticula are found at the tips of the diverticula. An aggressive surgical management of tumors larger than 5 mm is recommended.