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Gastric carcinoid tumours are rare, but are increasing in incidence.

To discuss tumour pathogenesis and outline current approaches to patient management.

Review of published articles following a Pubmed search.

Although interest in gastric carcinoids has increased since it was recognized that they are associated with achlorhydria, to date there is no definite evidence that humans taking long‐term acid suppressing medication are at increased risk. Type I tumours are associated with autoimmune atrophic gastritis and hypergastrinaemia, type II are associated with Zollinger–Ellison syndrome, multiple endocrine neoplasia‐1 and hypergastrinaemia and sporadic type III carcinoids are gastrin‐independent and carry the worst prognosis. Careful investigation of these patients is required, particularly to identify the tumour type, the source of hypergastrinaemia and the …