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Living with Carney triad

A rare condition with three kinds of tumors: in the digestive tract, the lungs, and nerve tissue outside the adrenal glands.

Understanding Carney triad

Carney triad is a rare condition that is not passed down in families and causes three types of tumors.

These are gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), lung chondromas (tumors made of cartilage), and extra-adrenal paragangliomas (tumors of nerve tissue outside the adrenal glands). It usually appears in the teen years or adulthood.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Belly pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Fatigue
  • Fast heart rate (tachycardia)
  • Bleeding in the digestive tract
  • Fluid in the belly (ascites)

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include cancer specialists, genetic specialists and hormone specialists.

  3. Ask which tests can help

    Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.

  4. Connect with expert centers

    GIST Support International may keep lists of experts for this condition.

Care & treatment

Care team
Cancer specialists (oncologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists); Hormone specialists (endocrinologists)
Expert care
Expert lists: GIST Support International
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with GIST Support International
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
How often should I be checked for new tumors?
Which specialists should manage each type of tumor?
Could any hormone problems be causing my symptoms?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startTeenager and as an Adult

GARD says changes in genes cause Carney triad, but describes it as non-hereditary, which means it is not passed down in families. No specific gene is listed.

GeneticEndocrine

Also known as: gastric leiomyosarcoma, pulmonary chondroma, and extraadrenal paraganglioma

Patient organizations

Source: NIH GARD · Carney triadGARD ID 10924 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Carney triad.

Explore the Carney triad blog

Explore research for Carney triad

Explore actively recruiting Carney triad studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Carney triad with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.

  • Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
  • Share your city to look for research near you
  • Eligibility is confirmed by the study team

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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.

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