NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter has a brain tumor that "appears to be malignant", doctors at Duke University Medical Center said on Friday.
The 11-times All-Star was diagnosed with four brain tumors in Florida last week and had biopsies done on one of them at Duke University in North Carolina earlier on Friday.
"The preliminary results are that his tumor appears to be malignant," Carter's doctors said in a statement released by the New York Mets.
"Once the pathology report is available, which will take several days, we will discuss treatment options with Mr. Carter and his family.
"In the meantime, Mr. Carter is in excellent spirits and good physical condition. He is resting comfortably, surrounded by his family."
Carter, 57, announced six days ago that he had been diagnosed with four "very small" brain tumors at a West Palm Beach facility and that he would undergo further testing.
Nicknamed "Kid", he hit .262 with 324 home runs and 1,225 RBIs during a 19-year career in the majors from 1974-1992.
He had spells with four different teams, the Montreal Expos, Mets, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers, and was inducted into Hall of Fame in 2003.
One of the premier catchers in the National League, Carter won three Gold Glove awards and five Silver Slugger awards.
(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Julian Linden)
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