Neuroendocrine Tumors

Diagnosis

Depending on where in the body the neuroendocrine tumor is located, several tests and treatments may be required to properly diagnose neuroendocrine tumor. The investigations consist of the following:

• Physical examination: to understand the signs and symptoms, the doctor might perform a physical examination. They might assess for enlarged lymph nodes or search for signs that the tumor is secreting too much hormones.
• Laboratory tests: in order to check for signs of excess hormones, produced by neuroendocrine tumors, the
  doctor may advise testing the blood or urine.
• Imaging tests: To determine the extent of the tumor, the specialist may recommend imaging tests. Test includes.
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): a scan that creates a thorough 3-D image of your organs and structures using magnetic and radio waves.
  • Computerized tomography (CT): creates a three-dimensional pictures of the soft tissues and bones using a computer and a set of X-rays.
  • Positron emission testing (PET) scan: to find an early indication of cancer, specialist will inject a radioactive tracer into the body.
• Biopsy: Depending on the circumstances, the doctor may do a bronchoscopy, endoscopy, or colonoscopy to collect the cells. Surgery may sometimes be required to collect a tissue sample.

Additional tests might be needed to determine the extent of cancer if there is a possibility that the neuroendocrine tumor has spread to the other parts of the body.

Treatment

Depending on the type of tumor, the location, and the symptoms related to overproduction of hormones by the tumor, there are several possible treatments for neuroendocrine tumors.

• Surgery: complete surgical excision of the tumor. The surgeon will remove the tumor as a whole and as well as some of the healthy tissue surrounding the tumor. It may be helpful to remove as much of the tumor as possible if it cannot be entirely removed.
• Chemotherapy: medicines are used in chemotherapy to kill tumor cells. It can be administered intravenously or orally. If there is a chance that the
  neuroendocrine tumor will return after surgery, chemotherapy may be recommended. Advanced cancers that cannot be removed through surgery may also be treated with chemotherapy.
• Radiation therapy: this therapy uses strong energy beams like X-rays and protons to kill the tumor cells. Radiation therapy may work on certain neuroendocrine tumor types. If surgery is not a possibility then radiation therapy is recommended.
• Targeted drug therapy: this therapy concentrates on particular abnormalities found in tumor cells. Targeted drug therapies can kill tumor cells by blocking these abnormalities. Advanced neuroendocrine tumors are typically treated with targeted drug therapy in addition to chemotherapy.
• Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT): involves combining a small amount of a radioactive material with a drug that fights cancer cells. It makes it possible to specifically use the radiation right to the specific cancer cells. Advanced neuroendocrine tumors are treated with the PRRT medication lutetium Lu 177 dotatate.
• Hormonal control medications: Specialists may recommend medicines to treat the symptoms if the neuroendocrine tumor release a large amount of hormones.