[Surgical therapy of carcinoid tumors of the gastrointestinal tract].

More than 70% of all carcinoids are localized in the gastrointestinal tract. Carcinoids of the upper, middle and lower intestines have to be distinguished ontogenetically. The classification according to Capella takes into account the size of the tumor (< 0.9 cm; 1-2 cm; > 2 cm), the grade of invasion of other structures, the grade of angioinvasion, the biologic behaviour, the grade of differentiation and the hormonal activity of the tumor. A carcinoid-syndrome is rarely found. Carcinoids of the small intestine occur multiple in 30-50% and in 20-30% a second malignant tumor is seen. In carcinoids of the colon this percentage is even higher (25-40%). The therapy of carcinoids depends on the size of the tumor and consecutively on the risk of metastasis. A local excision or non-oncologic radical operative procedure is justified in carcinoids smaller than 1 cm. In tumors 1-2 cm in size an individual decision has to be made. Larger tumors should be operated according to oncologic standards. Palliative resections, even of the liver, may be indicated to relieve the symptoms of a carcinoid-syndrome or, to prevent ileus or bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. The prognosis of gastrointestinal carcinoids is heterogenous: The five-year-survival-rate of appendix-carcinoids is 85.9% over all stages. In rectal carcinoids this rate amounts to 72.2%, in carcinoids of the small intestines to 55.4% and in colon-carcinoids to 41.6%. Carcinoids of the stomach have a five-year-survival-rate of 64.3% in the absence of metastases. Within carcinoids of the stomach type III-tumors have the worst prognosis with a median survival time of 6.5 months.