American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test

Which type of gastric carcinoid is most likely to have metastasis?

1. Type 1

2. Type 2

3. Type 3

4. Type 4

The correct answer is: Type 3

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.