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Abstract
Carcinoid tumours have the ability to secrete various peptides and bioamines that lead to carcinoid syndrome manifested as cutaneous flushing, diarrhoea, bronchial constriction and cardiac involvement. The deficiencies of vitamins D and B12 have previously been reported in patients with carcinoid tumours presumably due to chronic diarrhoea associated with the carcinoid syndrome. Herein, we chronicle the case of a patient with opioid use disorder who presented with small bowel obstruction that was found to be caused by a midgut carcinoid tumour. Laboratory studies revealed deficiencies of vitamins D and B12 even though he denied diarrhoea and had no other aetiology of deficiencies of these vitamins. Additionally, this paper presents a review of the published medical literature pertaining to clinical features, diagnostic investigations and treatment of intestinal carcinoid tumours and explores possible explanations for the observed deficiencies in these patients.
- gastroenterology
- small intestine cancer
- malabsorption
- vitamins and supplements
- general practice / family medicine
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Footnotes
Contributors RF: designed the study, drafted, reviewed, and revised the manuscript. SSNB: contributed to the case presentation, reviewed the manuscript, and suggested pertinent modifications. FI: performed the literature review, drafted and revised the manuscript critically for important intellectual content, and gave the final approval for the version published.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
Patient consent for publication Not required.