Carcinoid heart disease and carcinoid syndrome: successful surgical treatment

Liver metastases in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours - treatment methods

Surgical approaches that allow the safe treatment of multiple, bilateral, large tumours, and that combine extirpative, ablative and interventional therapies, have expanded the population of patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NET) liver metastases (LMs) who can benefit from aggressive treatment of their liver disease. Pre-treatment staging often includes the biochemical assessment of serologic markers such as serotonin, insulin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and chromogranin, even in patients without clinically apparent hormonal excess. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a technique that involves the use of thermal energy to induce coagulation necrosis, thereby destroying tumour cells. Resection plus RFA is increasingly used in patients with bilateral NET LMs. Resection is performed for large or dominant lesions, while ablation is used to treat small lesions. Hepatic arterial embolization, typically termed transarterial embolization, and transarterial chemoembolization have been shown to induce a reduction in tumour size and to ameliorate symptoms of excess hormonal secretion.

Ileal Carcinoid with Liver Metastasis Presenting after Ten Years with Abdominal Mass and Right Heart Failure: Report of a Case

A case of ileal carcinoid metastatic to the liver is reported. The diagnosis was made and treatment given ten years after the detection of a left hypervascular liver mass, which was first confounded with a hemangioma. The onset of right heart failure led to surgical replacement of the tricuspid and pulmonary valves. After cardiac surgery the patient underwent an ileal resection and left hepatectomy for a cystic left liver metastasis. Isolated right heart failure and cystic degeneration of a liver metastasis are uncommon features of metastatic carcinoid tumors; only a few cases have been described in the literature. Cardiac surgery is recommended before liver surgery to reduce venous pressure and consequent bleeding during hepatectomy. Surgical treatment of liver metastases may relieve endocrine symptoms and result in an overall five-year survival rate of 47%.

Tricuspid valve replacement on a beating heart via a right minithoracotomy

Right minithoracotomy provides an excellent exposure to the right atrium and the tricuspid valve. It is feasible and safe to perform a tricuspid valve replacement on a beating heart without cross-clamping the aorta via right minithoracotomy. The use of beating heart minimally invasive approach can decrease the morbidity and mortality of the procedure and still provide great exposure to the valve allowing either repair or replacement. The technical aspects of the procedure are described in a patient with carcinoid tricuspid valve disease.

Carcinoid heart disease

Carcinoid tumors are rare, indolent neuroendocrine tumors that are often associated with a syndrome characterized by episodic flushing, secretory diarrhea, bronchospasm, and hypotension-the carcinoid syndrome. Cardiac involvement occurs in one-half to two-thirds of patients with carcinoid syndrome and is associated with a worse clinical outcome. Carcinoid heart disease is characterized by endocardial plaque-like deposits found predominantly on right-sided heart valves, leading to the combination of valvular stenosis and regurgitation. Left-sided cardiac involvement can also occur in <10% of patients. Somatostatin analogs form the therapeutic cornerstone in the medical management of these patients. Cytotoxic chemotherapy has had only limited success in the treatment of metastatic carcinoid tumors. Hepatic resection or palliative cytoreduction may be of benefit in patients with limited hepatic disease. Hepatic artery embolization is usually applied if a patient is not eligible for surgical debulking. The development and progression of carcinoid heart disease are associated with an unfavorable outcome. In those patients having severe cardiac involvement and well-controlled systemic disease, valve replacement surgery has been found to be an effective treatment that can both relieve intractable symptoms and contribute to improved clinical outcomes.

Surgical treatment of neuroendocrine liver metastases

Management of Neuroendocrine liver metastases (NELM) is challenging. The presence of NELM worsens survival outcome and almost 10% of all liver metastases are neuroendocrine in origin. There is no firm consensus on the optimal treatment strategy for NELM. A systematic search of the PubMed database was performed from 1995-2010, to collate the current evidence and formulate a sound management algorithm. There are 22 case series with a total of 793 patients who had undergone surgery for NELM. The overall survival ranges from 46-86% at 5 years, 35-79% at 10 years, and the median survival ranges from 52-123 months. After successful cytoreductive surgery, the mean duration of symptom reduction is between 16-26 months, and the 5-year recurrence/progression rate ranges from 59-76%. Five studies evaluated the efficacy of a combination cytoreductive strategy reporting survival rate of ranging from 83% at 3 years to 50% at 10 years. To date, there is no level 1 evidence comparing surgery versus other liver-directed treatment options for NELM. An aggressive surgical approach, including combination with additional liver-directed procedures is recommended as it leads to long-term survival, significant long-term palliation, and a good quality of life. A multidisciplinary approach should be established as the platform for decision making.

Hepatic resection for the carcinoid syndrome in patients with severe carcinoid heart disease: does valve replacement permit safe hepatic resection?

BACKGROUND

Hepatic resection of metastatic carcinoid cancer can prolong survival and control symptomatic endocrinopathy. Decompensated carcinoid heart disease (CHD) can develop in some patients with metastatic carcinoid cancers, which can preclude operation for resectable hepatic metastases. We hypothesized that outcomes after hepatic resection for patients with the carcinoid syndrome after valve replacement for CHD would be similar to carcinoid patients without CHD.

STUDY DESIGN

We compared the survival and symptom control after hepatic resection for patients undergoing valve replacement for CHD to carcinoid patients without CHD matched for age, sex, and extent of hepatectomy.

RESULTS

Fourteen patients with earlier valve replacement for CHD were compared with 28 carcinoid patients without CHD. All patients had hepatic resection for metastatic carcinoid disease and carcinoid syndrome. Mean age, sex distribution, and extent of hepatectomy (major hepatectomy, 78%) was similar between groups. Mean interval from valve replacement to hepatectomy was 101 days. There was no operative mortality. Major operative morbidity, inclusive of operative blood loss and cardiorespiratory events, occurred in 28.5% and 14.2% for CHD and non-CHD groups, respectively (p = 0.16). Symptom-free survival for CHD and non-CHD groups was 69% and 81% at 1 year (p = 0.22) and 61% and 44% (p = 0.17) at 5 years, respectively. Octreotide-free survival after hepatectomy 69% and 84% (p = 0.15) at 1 year and 62% and 52% (p = 0.29) 5 years, respectively. Overall survival CHD and non-CHD groups 100% at 1 year and 100% and 70% (p = 0.002) 5 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Valve replacement for severe CHD is safe and hepatic resection is associated with similar outcomes as patients without CHD undergoing hepatic resection for carcinoid syndrome. Identifying resectable hepatic metastases from carcinoids in patients with severe CHD should prompt valve replacement and interval hepatic resection.

Multimodal management of neuroendocrine liver metastases

BACKGROUND

The incidence of neuroendocrine tumours (NET) has increased over the past three decades. Hepatic metastases which occur in up to 75% of NET patients significantly worsen their prognosis. New imaging techniques with increasing sensitivity enabling tumour detection at an early stage have been developed. The treatment encompasses a panel of surgical and non-surgical modalities.

METHODS

This article reviews the published literature related to management of hepatic neuroendocrine metastases.

RESULTS

Abdominal computer tomography, magnetic resonance tomography and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy are widely accepted imaging modalities. Hepatic resection is the only potentially curative treatment. Liver transplantation is justified in highly selected patients. Liver-directed interventional techniques and locally ablative measures offer effective palliation. Promising novel therapeutic options offering targeted approaches are under evaluation.

CONCLUSIONS

The treatment of neuroendocrine liver metastases still needs to be standardized. Management in centres of expertise should be strongly encouraged in order to enable a multidisciplinary approach and personalized treatment. Development of molecular prognostic factors to select treatment according to patient risk should be attempted.

Hepatic cytoreductive surgery for neuroendocrine cancer

Patients with gut-based metastatic neuroendocrine tumors (NET) often present late in the course of their slowly progressive disease, when cancer has extended beyond the point of reasonable expectation for surgical cure. At this stage of disease, the tumor's overwhelming hormonal production often significantly impairs the patient's quality of life. Unlike patients with other malignancies that might involve a heavy burden of hepatic metastatic disease, many patients with metastatic NET continue to live for a long time despite escalating hormone-related symptoms. This establishes the justification and rationale for cytoreduction, a noncurative surgical intervention that reduces tumor burden and hormonal burden and thereby can significantly increase symptom-free survival in the setting of an often slow but inevitable disease progression.

Role of hepatic resection for patients with carcinoid heart disease

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of resection of hepatic carcinoid metastases on progression and prognosis of carcinoid heart disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From our database of 265 consecutive patients diagnosed as having carcinoid heart disease from January 1, 1980, through December 31, 2005, we calculated survival from first diagnosis of cardiac involvement. Hepatic resection during follow-up was entered as a time-dependent covariable in a multivariable analysis. In patients with serial echocardiograms more than 1 year apart without intervening cardiac surgery, a previously validated cardiac severity score was calculated. A score increase that exceeded 25% was considered relevant progression.

RESULTS

Hepatic resection was performed in 31 patients (12%) during follow-up. Five-year survival was significantly higher in these patients (86.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 73.5%-100.0%) than in patients without hepatic resection (29.0%; 95% CI, 23.3%-36.1%; univariable hazard ratio for hepatic resection, 0.25; 95% CI 0.12-0.53; P<.001). Hepatic resection remained strongly associated with improved prognosis in multivariable analysis (hazard ratio, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.14-0.66; P=.003). Among 77 patients (29%) with serial echocardiograms, 10 (13%) underwent hepatic resection during follow-up; resection was independently associated with decreased risk of cardiac progression (odds ratio, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.06-0.75; P=.03).

CONCLUSION

Despite the limitations of this retrospective nonrandomized study, our data suggest that patients with carcinoid heart disease who undergo hepatic resection have decreased cardiac progression and improved prognosis. Eligible patients should be considered for hepatic surgery.

Carcinoid heart disease

Progress in the medical and surgical management of patients with carcinoid disease has resulted in improved symptoms and survival. Carcinoid heart disease remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with malignant carcinoid syndrome. Limited medical treatment options are available for patients with symptomatic carcinoid heart disease. At the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), we have taken an aggressive approach to severe valvular dysfunction from carcinoid heart disease. Patients with severe carcinoid heart disease currently are referred for cardiac operation when they develop cardiac symptoms, ventricular dysfunction, or (rarely) in anticipation of hepatic surgery. Surgical outcome depends on patient age and functional class at the time of cardiac surgery. Despite metastatic disease that limits longevity, cardiac surgical survivors usually demonstrate dramatic improvement in functional capacity. Cardiac surgery should be considered early for patients with symptomatic carcinoid heart disease and controlled carcinoid symptoms. An experienced medical, surgical, and anesthetic team approach to the patient with carcinoid heart disease is critical in order to provide state of the art management.

Carcinoid heart disease

Carcinoid heart disease is a rare form of valvular heart disease. The management of these patients is complex, as the systemic malignant disease and the cardiac involvement have to be considered at the same time. Progress in the treatment of patients with carcinoid disease has resulted in improved symptom control and survival. Development and progression of carcinoid heart disease are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. In patients with severe cardiac involvement and well-controlled systemic disease, cardiac surgery has been recognized as the only effective treatment option. Valve replacement surgery may not only be beneficial in terms of symptom relief, but may also contribute to the improved survival observed over the past 2 decades in patients with carcinoid heart disease. Early diagnosis and early surgical treatment in appropriately selected patients may provide the best results. In this article, we review the current literature regarding the biology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of carcinoid heart disease.

Quadruple Valve Involvement in a Patient With Severe Carcinoid Heart Disease

We report on the case of a 48-year-old male patient suffering from a severe carcinoid heart disease with involvement of the four valves. The primary carcinoid tumor was diagnosed in the ileum. The patient developed a moderate stenosis and severe insufficiency of the tricuspid valve, a severe insufficiency of the pulmonary valve, and a moderate insufficiency of the mitral and aortic valves. Ultimately, a stentless pulmonary valve replacement was performed, as well as a tricuspid valve replacement with a pericardial prosthesis and aortic and mitral valve plasty. The patient recovered well and he was discharged from hospital on day 10.

Acute Renal Failure After Cardiac Surgery for Carcinoid Heart Disease: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Prognosis

BACKGROUND

Cardiac surgery for carcinoid heart disease may be associated with acute renal failure (ARF) and multiorgan dysfunction postoperatively. This study was performed to determine the incidence, risk factors, and prognosis of ARF after cardiac surgery for carcinoid heart disease.

METHODS

This is a case-control study of 86 consecutive patients who underwent cardiac surgery for carcinoid heart disease. ARF is defined as hemodialysis requirement or serum creatinine level 50% greater than baseline, resulting in an estimated creatinine clearance less than 40 mL/min (0.67 mL/s). Preoperative, operative, and postoperative characteristics were examined and compared between groups to determine risk factors and prognosis of ARF.

RESULTS

ARF occurred in 22% of cases (19 of 86 patients). Preoperative characteristics and type of procedure did not differ between groups. Operative variables associated with ARF by means of univariate analysis included longer surgical and bypass times, intra-aortic balloon pump use, and perioperative epinephrine requirement. Postoperatively, ARF was associated with epinephrine use, prolonged mechanical ventilation, prolonged intensive care unit admission, and higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores. Perioperative mortality in the ARF group was 47% versus 4.5% in the control group (odds ratio, 36.1; 95% confidence interval, 8.0 to 261.8).

CONCLUSION

ARF developed in a relatively high proportion of this cohort, but traditional preoperative risks failed to predict post-cardiac surgery ARF. Variables closely related to perioperative hemodynamic compromise were associated with ARF. ARF portends a particularly poor prognosis in this cohort that is explained largely by multiorgan failure syndrome.

[Extracardiac causes of right ventricular insufficiency]

Evidence for manifest right ventricular dysfunction is considered a critical threshold in the development of a fatal event after acute pulmonary embolism. While the acute event impressively reflects the clinical significance of right ventricular function, various disorders such as idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension, secondary pulmonary hypertension in lung diseases, carcinoid heart disease, and portopulmonary hypertension can lead to chronic right ventricular failure. Adapted treatment makes it possible to alleviate the patients' distress and presumably also improve the prognosis. The clinical picture of right ventricular insufficiency can also be imitated in constrictive or adhesive pericarditis and pericardial tamponade. Pericardiocentesis of the tamponade provides initial hemodynamic improvement. Causal treatment is based on cytological findings and/or results of epicardial or pericardial biopsy to classify malignant and nonmalignant effusions. Cardiac surgery with pericardiolysis and (partial) pericardial resection remains the method of choice for symptomatic constrictive pericarditis.

Hepatic surgery for metastases from neuroendocrine tumors

Cytoreductive therapy is effective in the management of metastatic neuroendocrine tumors to the liver, independent of their functioning status. In functioning tumors, clinical endocrinopathies are relieved in most patients and this response usually lasts for several months. Major morbidity and mortality are not greater than the average complication rate for resection for nonneuroendocrine metastatic tumors at major centers; therefore, surgical outcomes appear to justify operative intervention. Patients whose primary tumor can be controlled, whose metastases outside the liver are limited, and who have a reasonable performance status are candidates for resection. The authors' data support the previous statements. The current mortality rate of 1.2% and major morbidity rate of 15% clearly represent the success of the operative approach in such complex cases (54% of patients received a resection of at least one lobe) [9]. A symptomatic response in the 95% range with a median response of 45 months adds many months of symptom-free survival to the lives of most patients [9]. In the literature reviewed for this article, more than half of the patients also underwent a major hepatic resection and 40% of them had concurrent resection of the primary tumor. These data confirm that resection in selected patients is not more complicated or risky than resection for other metastatic tumors. Endocrinopathies have not increased anesthetic or operative risk in this population; however, these results are the product of managing these patients over time, becoming familiar with their clinical syndromes, and being active in the prevention of life-threatening endocrine complications (i.e., carcinoid crisis). The authors have learned over time that patients with valvular disease are not good candidates for surgery. These patients develop right-sided heart failure with an increase in the central venous pressure. This condition can result in massive hemorrhage during the liver resection because of the difficulty in controlling backbleeding from the hepatic veins [26]. Correction of valvular disease is warranted for safe liver resection. The authors' current policy is to rule out valvular disease in every patient with carcinoid tumors and repair the valves prior to hepatic resection when indicated [27]. This policy clearly has decreased the complication rate. Even though liver transplantation seems to be very attractive as a means of eradicating the disease, this has not been common in clinical practice because of the shortage of allografts, and the overall costs and complications of the procedure override its benefits, especially when compared with partial hepatectomy. Current methods to detect the spread of disease that were not readily available in the past, such as MRI and indium-111 pentetreotide (Octreoscan), may expand the applications of transplantation and allow for better selection of candidates. The option of transplantation is still open for improvement and is dependent on organ availability and better staging of the disease. Metastases from neuroendocrine tumors are hypervascular, favoring the application of MRI as the single imaging method; MRI not only evaluates the location and characteristics of the lesions but also determines the relationship with major vessels and bile ducts. Spiral CT scan has been used extensively in the past with acceptable results. Indium-111 pentetreotide functions on the base of somatostatin receptors present in these tumors, but its use has not been established definitely in the work-up of these patients. Perhaps the best use of indium-111 pentetreotide is in the evaluation of disease beyond the primary and liver locations, including bone metastases; its use therefore will likely affect the preoperative work-up of candidates for transplantation [28]. Once the patient has been deemed to have resectable disease by the preoperative work-up, several steps need to be completed prior to surgery to decrease the effect of specific endocrinopathies. For patients with symptoms related to carcinoid tumors, preoperative preparation with 150 to 500 micrograms of somatostatin decreases the chances of carcinoid crisis, which is manifested by hemodynamic instability [29]. The use of this medication intraoperatively should be kept in mind because a carcinoid crisis can occur despite anesthetic premedication. For islet cell tumors, treatment of underlying endocrinopathy has been initiated before referral for surgical treatment in most patients. Surgery is appropriate for patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors for the following two reasons: (1) many of them still have the primary tumor in place and resection should be undertaken to avoid acute complications and (2) the addition of adjunctive ablative therapies to surgical resection accomplishes the control of greater than or equal to 90% of the bulk of the tumor. If preoperative evaluation indicates that less than 90% of the tumor is treatable, surgical therapy is contraindicated. Last, even when complete resections are performed, the recurrence rate for these tumors is extremely high. In practical terms, patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors are seldom cured. The best hope physicians can offer these patients is an extended survival period with minimal endocrine symptoms and decreased requirements of somatostatin analogs.

Balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty in carcinoid syndrome

Half of all patients with carcinoid syndrome develop cardiac involvement. Patients who have cardiac involvement have a significantly worse prognosis than those without, and death can occur directly as a result of cardiac involvement. A case of carcinoid syndrome in a 38 year old woman with lesions in the liver, who presented with right sided valvar abnormalities, a dilated right ventricle, and right ventricular pressure overload, is presented. In order to palliate the patient's symptoms and to decrease right sided pressures before major abdominal surgery, balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty was performed at the time of cardiac catheterisation. This resulted in a reduction in the pulmonary gradient and right ventricular pressure. Following the procedure, the patient's symptoms were completely relieved. She went on to laparotomy where the lesions in the liver were excised without complication.