Outcomes of surgical management of carcinoid heart disease in patients with primary gonadal neuroendocrine tumors

Abstract

Objectives

To describe the clinical presentation of patients with gonadal neuroendocrine tumors and carcinoid heart disease (CaHD) and to evaluate long-term outcomes following valvular surgery.

Methods

Retrospective review of patients with primary gonadal neuroendocrine tumor who were surgically treated for CaHD at our institution between 1990 and 2021.

Results

Eight patients (median age, 70 years) were included in the study, 7 with ovarian tumors and 1 with testicular tumor. None of the patients had liver metastasis at the time of cardiac surgery. Three patients presented with both CaHD symptoms and carcinoid syndrome symptoms (diarrhea and flushing). Three others presented with symptoms of CaHD but without diarrhea or flushing. One patient with ovarian tumor presented with severe diarrhea and flushing without CaHD symptoms and had tumor resection but then developed severe CaHD symptoms few months later. The last patient presented initially with an asymptomatic testicular mass, which was resected, but then developed severe CaHD symptoms years later. All patients had severe tricuspid regurgitation at time of surgery, and 7 had severe pulmonary regurgitation. All were treated with replacement of affected valves. Both 5- and 10-year survival rates were 86% and were higher than a control group of patients with CaHD and nongonadal primary neuroendocrine tumor (35% and 23%, respectively).

Conclusions

Patients with primary gonadal neuroendocrine tumors can develop CaHD in the absence of liver metastasis. Some patients have delayed presentation of cardiac symptoms, emphasizing the importance of thorough assessment and regular echocardiographic follow-up. Cardiac intervention is safe and yields excellent long-term survival.