Categorized: Gastroenterology

Prevalence of Rectal Carcinoid Tumors among Outpatient Colonoscopy Patients and the Utility of Immunohistochemistry for Definitive Diagnosis

Rectal carcinoid tumors are rare (0.05% in the general population, SEER data) and are usually discovered incidentally in routine colonoscopy biopsies. Although immunohistochemistry with neuroendocrine markers synaptophysin and/or chromogranin is often used to confirm the diagnosis, its utility is not well established. The aims of this study were to (1) determine the prevalence of rectal carcinoid tumors in a large cohort of US outpatient colonoscopy patients and (2) evaluate whether the routine use of immunohistochemical stains is necessary for a definitive diagnosis.

To read the rest of this article, please contact Inform Diagnostics.