American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test 2025 - Free Surgery Exam Practice Questions and Study Guide

Gastric carcinoids are neuroendocrine tumors that can arise in the stomach, and they are classified into different types based on underlying conditions and characteristics. Type 1 gastric carcinoids are typically associated with chronic atrophic gastritis and are usually indolent, with a low likelihood of metastasis. Type 2 carcinoids are linked to Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and are also less aggressive than type 3. In contrast, type 3 gastric carcinoids are characterized by their higher aggressiveness and greater potential to metastasize. These tumors are often sporadic and can present at a more advanced stage, demonstrating a higher rate of malignancy.

Furthermore, type 4 gastric carcinoids represent a rare and highly aggressive variant, but the focus of the question is specifically on the type most likely to metastasize. Therefore, while both types 3 and 4 can metastasize, type 3 is the one that is most generally recognized in literature and clinical practice as having a well-established association with metastatic disease. It is essential to understand these classifications when considering prognosis and potential treatment options for gastric carcinoids.