It has been reported that some patients have been misdiagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, when in fact the correct diagnosis in their specific case was Carcinoid Syndrome And Carcinoid Tumours.
Carcinoid tumors are those that develop in special cells called neuroendocrine cells that can be found in the digestive or respiratory tract. They are an especially slow growing cancer which means that they don’t cause any symptoms till the cancer is much progressed. Because neuroendocrine cells produce the body’s hormones it can lead to the condition called carcinoid syndrome in 10% of patients. This means the cancer has spread to the liver and is mass producing serotonin in the body. It causes symptoms such as diarrhea, tightness when breathing and red hot facial flushing. This cancer shares symptoms and can be mistaken as other endocrine tumors. If untreated this condition can cause damage to the heart valves leading to congestive heart failure, malnourishment from constant diarrhea, severe blood pressure changes and palpitations which can all lead to death.