Ileal carcinoid

Abstract

Gastrointestinal carcinoids are ill understood, enigmatic malignancies which are extremely difficult to diagnose. In spite of their slow growth rate, they can be aggressive. The aim of this report is to present a case of ileal carcinoid which produced a complete intestinal obstruction. The case records of a 78-year-old tailor who was treated over a period of one year and diagnosed with an ileal carcinoid and a review of literature using medline and manual library search were used. The patient was admitted and treated conservatively on two occasions in 2004 with features of subacute intestinal obstruction. He improved on each occasion and was discharged. He was admitted for the third time in 2005 with complete intestinal obstruction which required an exploratory laparotomy. A small, hard and completely obstructing tumor was found in midileum. No synchronous tumor was detected and there was no ascites. The liver felt and looked normal. Ileal resection and end-to-end anestomosis was done. Post operative recovery was complicated by a bout of severe diarrhea which required intravenous fluid therapy. There was good wound healing and was discharged 12 days after laparotomy. He was well clinically at follow-up review one month afterdischarge. The case illustrates the difficulty in making a diagnosis of this condition before surgery.