Long-term survival of patients with carcinoid tumor and liver metastases.

Purpose: To determine long-term survival and long-term stable disease in patients with atypical carcinoid tumor with liver metastases.

Methods: From 1993 till 2008, the records of 56 patients with atypical carcinoid were reviewed. Nine of them who had liver metastases were analysed. All patients had carcinoid tumors confirmed histologically. Treatment, including chemotherapy and somatostatin, was given as palliative therapy of short duration.

Results: The median survival of 9 patients was 50 months (range 12-156). Three of 9 (33.33%) patients died of disease, at 12, 48 and 50 months. The remaining 6 patients are alive after 36, 40, 108, 120, 156 and 156 months, practically without treatment and experiencing a high quality of life.

Conclusion: Six of 9 (66.66%) patients are alive having received almost no treatment for many years.