The diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumours: An endocrine perspective

Abstract

Neuroendocrine tumours are functioning or non-functioning tumours which are derived from neuroendocrine cells scattered throughout the body. The clinical presentation of neuroendocrine tumours depends mainly on the site of the primary tumour and whether it is secretory in nature and thus causing specific symptoms. neuroendocrine tumour patients may be consulted in endocrinology outpatient clinics with complaints of flushing and sweating, hypoglycaemia, or due to ectopic hormone production-related symptoms, or may be referred from gastroenterology or general surgery units due to incidentally-found gastric neuroendocrine tumours, diabetes, pancreatic lesions, abdominal pain and/or diarrhoea. The current review will focus on presentation, symptomatology and diagnostic markers of tumours arising from the diffuse NE cell system, principally gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours. The aim is to present a practical approach for the endocrinologist facing the large numbers of available laboratory tests, and will emphasise the relationship of these tumours with some genetic syndromes such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1).