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

Type 2 gastric carcinoids are commonly associated with which of the following conditions?

1. Atrophic gastritis

2. Gastric ulcer disease

3. Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and MEN 1

4. Familial adenomatous polyposis

The correct answer is: Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and MEN 1

Type 2 gastric carcinoids are indeed commonly associated with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1). In Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, there is an increased secretion of gastrin due to gastrin-secreting tumors (gastrinomas), which can lead to hypergastrinemia. This elevated gastrin level stimulates the gastric mucosa and can result in the development of neuroendocrine tumors such as type 2 gastric carcinoids. In the context of MEN 1, which is characterized by a triad of tumors including pituitary adenomas, hyperparathyroidism, and pancreatic endocrine tumors, gastric carcinoids can occur due to the influence of elevated gastrin levels as well. The pathophysiological link between these conditions creates an environment conducive for the development of these neuroendocrine tumors. Other conditions listed, such as atrophic gastritis and familial adenomatous polyposis, are associated with different types of gastric and gastrointestinal tumors but do not have the same strong connection with type 2 gastric carcinoids as seen with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and MEN 1. Therefore, the association with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and MEN