# Carcinoid Heart Disease: Diagnostic Value of Cardiac MRI in a Patient With Metastatic Small‑Intestinal Neuroendocrine Tumor

## TL;DR

This case study shows how cardiac MRI helps diagnose heart disease caused by a type of cancer called neuroendocrine tumor.

## Contribution

The paper emphasizes the diagnostic role of cardiac MRI in confirming carcinoid heart disease in metastatic neuroendocrine tumor patients.

## Key findings

- Transthoracic echocardiography showed severe tricuspid and moderate pulmonary regurgitation.
- Cardiac MRI confirmed right-heart remodeling and regurgitation consistent with carcinoid heart disease.

## Abstract

Carcinoid heart disease (CHD) is a serious and potentially life‑limiting complication of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), resulting from prolonged systemic exposure to serotonin and other vasoactive substances, leading to fibrotic valvular degeneration. We report the case of a 71‑year‑old woman with metastatic small‑intestinal NET and associated carcinoid syndrome presenting with progressive exertional intolerance. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed severe tricuspid and moderate pulmonary regurgitation with right‑sided ventricular dilation. Cardiac MRI confirmed regurgitation and right‑heart remodeling consistent with CHD.

Teaching point: This case highlights the diagnostic value of multimodal imaging, particularly cardiac MRI, in confirming and characterizing CHD in patients with metastatic NETs.