DIARRHEA, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal bleeding, chylous ascites and an intra-abdominal tumor

Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumor and Chylous Ascites, a Rare Association with a Poor Prognosis. A Case Report

Gastrointestinal carcinoid is a rare tumor. The association of this tumor with chylous ascites is uncommon. A review of the English-language literature carried out in 2002 identified only 15 cases. We report a case of chylous ascites, gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor and elevated blood levels of CA-125 in a patient who did not respond to chemotherapy.

Case report: chylous ascites and carcinoid tumors: possible association of two rare disorders

Three cases of chylous ascites are reported in a series of 275 patients with carcinoid tumor. All three patients had diarrhea and elevated serotonin production. The literature is reviewed and the possible causes of the chylous ascites are discussed. It is suggested that a history of clinically significant diarrhea in a patient with chylous ascites should lead to biochemical tests for carcinoid tumors.