Gastric carcinoid tumor after laparoscopic gastric banding: Case report of a patient with weight regain

INTRODUCTION: Although carcinoid tumours are a rare gastrointestinal neoplasm with an incidence rate of 1–2.5 cases per 100 000 inhabitants, they are the most common neuroendocrine tumour of the stomach. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 70-year-old-man consulted for epigastric pain and dyspepsia symptoms. His past medical and surgical history included obesity (BMI: 53.9 kg/m(2)), hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus type 2, cardiac failure and a surgical treatment with laparoscopic gastric banding. For the analysis and control of the gastric banding an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed evidencing many small polyps in the gastric antrum, body and fundus. The histopathological examination of the resected specimen revealed a well differentiated carcinoid. Laparoscopic surgery for the removal of the gastric banding and the subtotal gastrectomy leaving a small gastric remnant of approximately 2-cm in size similar to the pouch of a bypass was done. Twelve months after surgery the patient presented a body mass index of 36.6 kg /m(2). DISCUSSION: Gastric carcinoid increased incidence among the obese population, although the causing mechanisms are not clear, yet it is likely that metabolic and hormonal effects of the obesity play a role. The resection may be performed either endoscopically when the lesions are small, or surgically according to the tumor type and size. CONCLUSION: The resective gastric bypass or gastrectomy with anastomosis by Roux- en- Y bypass may be considered as a treatment of choice for patients who after bariatric surgery were diagnosed with gastric carcinoid and weight regain.