Table 2.
Patients with gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors: Most frequent diagnoses1 in carcinoid syndrome patients, ordered by prevalence in carcinoid syndrome cohort n (%)
| Diagnosis description |
No. of patients |
Difference in Rate (CS-Non-CS) | Relative Risk (CS vs Non-CS) | |
| CS cohort n = 251 | Non-CS cohort n = 753 | |||
| Abdominal pain2 | 166 (66.14) | 388 (51.53) | 14.61% | 1.28 |
| Hypertension2 | 127 (50.60) | 393 (52.19) | -1.59% | 0.97 |
| Dyslipidemia2 | 124 (49.40) | 347 (46.08) | 3.32% | 1.07 |
| Benign neoplasm large bowel | 79 (31.47) | 241 (32.01) | -0.53% | 0.98 |
| Esophageal reflux | 74 (29.48) | 190 (25.23) | 4.25% | 1.17 |
| Diverticulosis of colon (without mention of hemorrhage) | 68 (27.09) | 159 (21.12) | 5.98% | 1.28 |
| Liver disorder2 | 56 (22.31) | 79 (10.49) | 11.82% | 2.13 |
| Chest pain, unspecified | 53 (21.12) | 147 (19.52) | 1.59% | 1.08 |
| Anemia, unspecified | 51 (20.32) | 141 (18.73) | 1.59% | 1.09 |
| Pain in limb | 41 (16.33) | 117 (15.54) | 0.80% | 1.05 |
| Internal hemorrhoids without mention of complication | 41 (16.33) | 87 (11.55) | 4.78% | 1.41 |
| Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of stomach, intestine, and rectum | 39 (15.54) | 95 (12.62) | 2.92% | 1.23 |
| Nonspecific (abnormal) findings on radiological and other examination of gastrointestinal tract | 38 (15.14) | 66 (8.76) | 6.37% | 1.73 |
| Lumbago | 38 (15.14) | 79 (10.49) | 4.65% | 1.44 |
| Enlargement of lymph nodes | 36 (14.34) | 40 (5.31) | 9.03% | 2.70 |
| Malignant neoplasm of colon, unspecified site | 35 (13.94) | 114 (15.14) | -1.20% | 0.92 |
| Hypothyroidism, unspecified | 34 (13.55) | 106 (14.08) | -0.53% | 0.96 |
| Abdominal or pelvic swelling, mass, or lump, unspecified site (begin 1994) | 34 (13.55) | 60 (7.97) | 5.58% | 1.70 |
| Other and unspecified noninfectious gastroenteritis and colitis | 32 (12.75) | 73 (9.69) | 3.05% | 1.32 |
| Type 2 diabetes mellitus2 | 32 (12.75) | 158 (20.98) | -8.23% | 0.61 |
| Other specified disorders of intestine | 29 (11.55) | 70 (9.30) | 2.26% | 1.24 |
| Obesity, unspecified | 28 (11.16) | 82 (10.89) | 0.27% | 1.02 |
| Diaphragmatic hernia | 28 (11.16) | 65 (8.63) | 2.52% | 1.29 |
| Headache | 28 (11.16) | 74 (9.83) | 1.33% | 1.14 |
| Anxiety state, unspecified | 27 (10.76) | 71 (9.43) | 1.33% | 1.14 |
| Acute appendicitis, unspecified | 26 (10.36) | 91 (12.08) | -1.73% | 0.86 |
| Reflux esophagitis | 26 (10.36) | 41 (5.44) | 4.91% | 1.90 |
| Abdominal or pelvic swelling, mass, or lump, other specified site | 26 (10.36) | 35 (4.65) | 5.71% | 2.23 |
| Dyspepsia and other specified disorders of function of stomach | 26 (10.36) | 26 (3.45) | 6.91% | 3.00 |
| Urinary tract infection, unspecified | 26 (10.36) | 96 (12.75) | -2.39% | 0.81 |
| Pre-operative cardiovascular examination | 25 (9.96) | 102 (13.55) | -3.59% | 0.74 |
| Tobacco use disorder | 24 (9.56) | 77 (10.23) | -0.66% | 0.94 |
| Constipation, unspecified | 24 (9.56) | 79 (10.49) | -0.93% | 0.91 |
1Claims in 1 year prior to the index date, excluding those for CS, NET, or symptoms/conditions known to be associated with CS;
Abdominal Pain (ICD-9-CM 789.0x, 789.6x); Type 2 DM (ICD-9-CM 250.x0, 250.x2); Hypertension (ICD-9-CM 401.xx, 402.xx, 403.xx, 404.xx, 405.xx, 437.2x); Dyslipidemia (ICD-9-CM 272.xx); Liver disorder (ICD-9-CM 573.8x, 573.9x). Variables not shown: Screening (Routine medical examination, Other screening mammogram, Long-term (current) use of other medications, Routine gynecological examination, Vaccination for influenza, Screen for malignant neoplasms of colon, Other specified pre-operative examination; GI cancer (Digestive neoplasm, unspecified); Prevalence < 10% in both CS and non-CS cohort (Screening for malignant neoplasms of prostate, Backache unspecified, Other abnormal blood chemistry, Vitamin D deficiency unspecified, Lumbar or lumbosacral intervertebral disc degeneration, Atrophic gastritis without mention of hemorrhage, Personal history of colonic polyps, Cervicalgia, Iron deficiency anemia unspecified). CS: Carcinoid syndrome; NET: Neuroendocrine tumors.