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Old 14th Sep 2009, 19:27
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homonculus
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
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This is not a term we usually use.

It sounds like carcinoid syndrome - cancer occuring in the guts, often with lots of separate tumours, which produce chemicals which effect the nervous system. Very very rare - I only see a couple a year working in an endocrine centre - and not nice. Treatment is chemotherapy but poor outlook.

The other two lots of 'problems' that fit this term are

1 adrenal tumours - these arise in the adrenal glands on top of the kidneys and produce adrenaline. Patients may present with fast heart, sweating and high blood pressure. We simply remove the adrenal gland

2 pituitary tumours. The pituitary sits at the base of the brain and has been described as the conductor of the endocrine system. It releases control enzymes that regulate the thyroid and kidney as well as growth hormone, steroids, and causes lactation. Symptoms vary according to what the tumour produces. It may produce nothing. Eyesight deterioration (loss of fields) is a frequent presentation as the pituitary sits behind the optic nerves. Treatment is surgery or radiotherapy.

Oh, and tumours of the central nervous system never metastasize.

Hope this helps

Homonculus
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