Neuroendocrine Tumors
The term “neuroendocrine” is applied to widely dispersed cells with “neuro” and “endocrine” properties.
Neuroendocrine cells are defined by their production of neuropeptides and hormones, the presence of large, dense-core, intracellular secretory granules.
Neuroendocrine cells are found in gastrointestinal (GI) tract (including the small intestine, rectum, stomach, colon, esophagus and appendix), the gallbladder, the pancreas (islet cells), the thyroid (C cells) and the adrenal gland (medulla).
Neuroendocrine Tumors derived from neuroendocrine cells.
Based on clinical behavior, histology, and proliferation rate, these tumors are generally categorized, similar to lymphomas, as low-grade indolent tumors versus high-grade aggressive carcinomas.
The indolent tumors follow a prolonged clinical course with a low risk of distant metastases even in the absence of treatment, whereas the aggressive carcinomas are associated with rapid progression and poor long-term prognosis.
Types:
Gastrointestinal NETs
Pancreatic NETs
Lung NETs
Other:
Medullary carcinoma of thyroid
Parathyroid cancer or parathyroid adenoma
Thymic neuroendocrine cancer
Pheochromocytoma – starts in the chromaffin cells of the adrenal glands
Paraganglioma – starts in the chromaffin cells outside the adrenal glands
Pituitary gland tumors
Neuroendocrine tumors of the ovaries or testicles
Merkel cell carcinoma – a type of non-melanoma skin cancer
Reference:
Oronsky B, Ma PC, Morgensztern D, Carter CA. Nothing But NET: A Review of Neuroendocrine Tumors and Carcinomas. Neoplasia. 2017;19(12):991-1002. doi:10.1016/j.neo.2017.09.002
Image credit:
Neuroendocrine Tumor Epidemiology: Contrasting Norway and North America - Scientific Figure on ResearchGate. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/f....igure/The-distributi [accessed 22 Feb, 2021]
benzoix @freepik
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