An 18-year follow-up of primary hepatic carcinoid with carcinoid syndrome

Primary hepatic carcinoid is extremely rare. Although one of the 18 previously reported cases was accompanied by clinical features of carcinoid syndrome, no patient manifested these features as the presenting complaint, as was true in our case. During the 18 years this patient has been followed, she has been treated with most of the major therapeutic methods, including systemic chemotherapy, hepatic artery chemoembolus injection, extended right hepatic lobectomy, and, eventually, more systemic chemotherapy and octreotide. She continues to be nearly asymptomatic and is still working. We present the results of extensive chemical and hormonal assays, briefly summarize the primary hepatic carcinoids reported previously, and review therapy of this disease.