1994 Volume 44 Pages 186-187
A 55-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for the evaluation of liver masses. Ultrasonography revealed multiple masses of the liver. They appeared as low density areas on a CT scan. The masses were diagnosed as metastatic tumors in the liver. While exploring for the primary site, we observed a flat tumor with a central depression in the rectum, located 5 cm from anal ring. The tumor was small (10 mm) . It was histologically diagnosed as a rectal carcinoid tumor.
As there were no metastatic lesions other than liver metastasis. Liver biopsy was performed. Histologically, the masses were diagnosed as liver metastasis of rectal carcinoid tumor. It was very rare for a rectal carcinoid tumor, which was smaller than 10mm in diameter. The tumor size and the presence of depression were considered important diagnostic indices associated with malignancy.
