[Carcinoids of the small intestine. Retrospective study of the radiological diagnosis of 15 patients (author's transl)].

The radiological workup of 15 patients with a carcinoid has been evaluated. As 7 of the 15 patients presented for emergency operation, only the remaining 8 had barium studies (7 barium meals and 1 barium enema). Two of the barium meals were even retrospectively, entirely negative. In two others, initially the diagnosis was missed despite radiological signs, which had been overlooked on follow-up films. Fluoroscopic examination of the small bowel would probably have ensured the detection of the lesion. At the time of diagnosis nine tenth of the tumours were already infiltrating and more than half of them metastasizing. The presence of the carcinoid syndrome implies the production of the causative hormones in the liver or the pulmonary circulation. In order to find the primary intestinal carcinoid in a cureable stage- that is, before it has metastasized-, all patients with diarrhoea and repeated bouts of abdominal pain should have a careful follow-up examination of the small bowel. This examination must include fluoroscopies.