Neuroendocrine tumours: what gastroenterologists need to know

Khan, Mohid S and Pritchard, D Mark ORCID: 0000-0001-7971-3561 (2022) Neuroendocrine tumours: what gastroenterologists need to know. Frontline Gastroenterology, 13 (1). pp. 50-56.

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Abstract

<jats:p>Gastroenterologists are intermittently involved in diagnosing and managing patients who have neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). However, few UK gastroenterologists have received extensive training about this topic. This article aims to provide a brief introduction to NETs; it is aimed at a general gastroenterologist audience.</jats:p><jats:p>NETs present in diverse ways and many symptomatic patients unfortunately experience significant delays in diagnosis. Comprehensive evaluation of a patient with a possible NET involves assessing their symptoms, the tumour’s primary organ of origin, its differentiation status, grade and stage, whether the NET is secreting hormones and whether there is any underlying hereditary predisposition. Such assessment often needs specialist investigations such as nuclear medicine scans. All these factors influence patient management and prognosis, so a patient’s case and investigations should always be discussed by a fully constituted NET multidisciplinary team. Most localised tumours are considered for resection, but there are multiple treatment options for metastatic disease and many patients receive several different therapies during the course of their illness. The most common first line treatment in patients who have metastatic low grade NETs is monthly long acting somatostatin analogue injections. Prognosis is highly variable, but some patients who have inoperable metastases survive for many years on treatment with good quality of life. Gastroenterologists may also be involved in managing the non-tumour associated chronic gastrointestinal problems that some patients experience. Their involvement has been shown to improve patient-reported outcomes and quality of life.</jats:p>

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	gastrointestinal cancer, gastrointestinal neoplasia, gut hormones, small bowel disease
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	14 Oct 2020 08:20
Last Modified:	14 Dec 2022 16:35
DOI:	10.1136/flgastro-2020-101431
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3104181