Neuroendocrine Tumour

What is a neuroendocrine tumour?

Neuroendocrine tumours also called as carcinoids are tumours of cells which release hormones as well as have characteristics of nerves, called neuroendocrine cells. The growth of these tumours is often slow. They can develop in any organ of the body. These can be malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous).

What are its main signs and symptoms?

Depending upon the location of tumour, symptoms may vary. Below are some common symptoms which occur regardless of location

• Flushing (face or neck without sweating)
• Diarrhoea
• Difficulty in breathing
• High blood pressure
• Fatigue, weakness
• Abdominal pain, cramping, feeling of fullness
• indescribable weight gain or loss
• Wheezing, coughing
• Swelling in the feet and ankles
• Skin lesions, discoloured patches of skin
• High or low blood glucose levels

What are the main causes?

The exact cause of neuroendocrine tumours is not known. The possibility of developing neuroendocrine tumour increases if one of the below-inherited conditions are present:

• Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1
• Neurofibromatosis type 1
• Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome

How is it diagnosed and treated?

Diagnosis of neuroendocrine disease can be done by following tests:

• Blood tests
• Biopsy of tissue
• Genetic testing and counselling
• Scans which includes:
  • Ultrasound
  • Computerised tomography
  • Magnetic resonance imaging
  • Positron emission tomography
  • Octreotide scans – in this scan a mild radioactive liquid is injected in the veins and camera is utilized to detect the presence of cancerous cells
  • Laparoscopy
  • Nuclear medicine imaging

The treatment of neuroendocrine disease depends upon the location, intensity of a tumour and overall health status of patient. Below are the treatments available for this disease:

• Surgery: Localized tumours can be removed by surgery and is considered as the first line of therapy.
• Chemotherapy, hormone therapy and/or targeted therapy are used to treat a complicated or severe neuroendocrine tumour.
• Medication: Somatostatin analogues (octreotide or lanreotide) stop the growth many hormones and reduce the intensity of symptoms and slow the disease progression.
• Radiotherapy: reduce a tumour or stop it growing by blocking its blood supply using X- rays or gamma rays.

1. National Health Service [Internet]. UK; Neuroendocrine tumours.
2. Canadian Cancer Society [Internet]: Toronto,Canada; Neuroendocrine tumours.
3. National Cancer Institute [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Neuroendocrine tumor.
4. National Organization for Rare Disorders [Internet]; Neuroendocrine tumor.
5. Oronsky B, Ma PC, Morgensztern D, Carter CA. Nothing But NET: A Review of Neuroendocrine Tumors and Carcinomas. Neoplasia. 19(12):991-1002. doi: 10.1016/j.neo.2017.09.002. Epub 2017 Nov 5. PubMed PMID: 29091800; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5678742.