A HALF-CENTURY OF EXPERIENCE WITH CARCINOID-TUMORS IN CHILDREN

PURPOSE: To investigate the frequency, presentation, clinical management, and prognosis of appendiceal carcinoid tumors in children. METHOD: A review of our institution's experience over 50 years. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients below the age of 20 presented with appendiceal carcinoid tumor. The mean age at presentation was 14.6 years. Twelve patients presented with symptoms of appendicitis. No tumor was >2.0 cm in size. Only 2 patients underwent resection beyond appendectomy. No patient had recurrent or metastatic carcinoid tumor, and all but 1 patient (who died of ovarian choriocarcinoma) are alive without evidence of carcinoid tumors 1.5 to 30 years after diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Appendiceal carcinoid tumors in children are rarely life-threatening and the incidence of large tumors (>2.0 cm) is very low. The role of right hemicolectomy in large (>2.0 cm) tumors is questionable in this age group.