Carcinoid tumor presenting as central nervous system symptoms. Case report and review of the literature.

Carcinoid tumors are relatively uncommon. They are known for their slow growing behavior and unique symptoms. Patients with carcinoid tumors usually present with signs and symptoms due either to local disease or to the carcinoid syndrome. During the course of these tumors, they tend to metastasize to different sites, including regional lymph nodes, lungs, liver, and bone. They rarely metastasize to the central nervous system (CNS) and very rarely present with signs and symptoms related to CNS metastasis. We report a patient who presented with CNS symptoms and was found to have a pulmonary carcinoid tumor involving the liver and the dura mater. In this article, CNS involvement in carcinoid tumors is discussed, and the literature is reviewed.