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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffThe cells of carcinoid tumors can secrete hormones and other chemicals into your body, causing a range of complications, including:
- Stomach ulcers. Carcinoid tumors, particularly those in the stomach, can secrete a hormone that increases acid in the stomach, which can lead to ulcers.
- Carcinoid syndrome. Carcinoid syndrome causes redness or a feeling of warmth in your face and neck (skin flushing), chronic diarrhea, and difficulty breathing, among other signs and symptoms.
- Carcinoid heart disease. Carcinoid tumors may secrete hormones that can cause thickening of the lining of heart chambers, valves and blood vessels. This can lead to leaky heart valves, an enlarged heart and heart failure. Carcinoid heart disease can usually be controlled with medications and surgery.
- Cushing's syndrome. A lung carcinoid tumor can produce an excess of a hormone that can cause your body to produce too much of the hormone cortisol.
- Acromegaly. Another hormone secreted by some lung carcinoid tumors can cause this rare hormone disorder. Acromegaly causes bones to increase in size, including the hands, feet and face.
