What are the current guidelines for the management of carcinoid syndrome in primary care?

Management of carcinoid syndrome in primary care:

• Recognition and referral: Carcinoid syndrome is a complex condition usually related to neuroendocrine tumors and often requires specialist assessment. Primary care should focus on early recognition of symptoms such as flushing, diarrhoea, and wheezing, and promptly refer patients to specialist neuroendocrine or oncology services for diagnosis and management, as carcinoid syndrome management is not detailed in primary care guidelines but involves multidisciplinary specialist input.
• Symptom control and supportive care: In primary care, management includes addressing symptoms such as diarrhoea and flushing with supportive treatments and monitoring for complications. Symptom control may involve anti-diarrhoeal agents and other symptomatic treatments, but initiation of somatostatin analogues or other disease-modifying therapies is typically managed in secondary care.
• Coordination with specialist teams: Primary care plays a role in ongoing monitoring, supporting adherence to treatment plans, managing comorbidities, and providing palliative care when needed, liaising closely with specialist teams for complex management decisions.
• Psychological and palliative support: Primary care should assess and manage psychological distress and provide or refer for palliative care support as carcinoid syndrome can significantly impact quality of life.

There are no specific NICE or UK primary care guidelines explicitly detailing carcinoid syndrome management steps in primary care within the provided context, indicating that care is largely specialist-led with primary care supporting symptom management and coordination of care.