Carcinoid tumour of the terminal ileum simulating Crohn disease

Carcinoid tumours are often difficult to diagnose because of obscure or non-specific symptoms. Two cases of ileal carcinoid are reported in whom the diagnosis was delayed as the symptoms and small-bowel series were thought to be consistent with Crohn disease. This report emphasizes the difficulties of diagnosing carcinoid by conventional radiological methods. Ileal carcinoid should be considered in the differential diagnosis of Crohn disease, particularly in elderly patients presenting with chronic recurrent symptoms.