Neuroendocrine Tumours
Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) arise from specialised signalling cells, commonly in the digestive system, pancreas or lungs. Their behaviour varies from slow-growing local disease to aggressive cancer, and some release hormones that cause distinct syndromes.
Key takeaways
- Tumour site, grade, differentiation, stage and hormone secretion all affect treatment and prognosis.
- Symptoms and a single tumour marker cannot establish the diagnosis; imaging and tissue pathology are central.
- Targeted medicine is one option among surgery, somatostatin-directed treatment, radionuclide therapy and other systemic care.
The catalogue cannot classify a NET or define treatment; pathology, receptor imaging, organ function and prior therapy guide a specialist team.
How are NETs classified?
Biopsy shows differentiation and proliferation grade. Cross-sectional and receptor-based imaging map disease. Hormone tests are selected from the symptom pattern rather than ordered as a generic panel.
When can targeted medicine help?
Everolimus inhibits mTOR and may be used for selected progressive pancreatic, gastrointestinal or lung NETs. It can suppress immunity and affect glucose, lungs and kidneys, so monitoring is required. It is not automatically front-line treatment; see oncology support for context.
When to seek urgent care
Seek urgent care for severe breathing difficulty, fainting, confusion, uncontrolled diarrhoea with dehydration, major bleeding, severe abdominal pain or fever with marked illness during treatment.