Neuro endocrine tumours

BACKGROUND: Small-intestinal neuroendocrine tumours (SI-NETs) represent a heterogeneous group of rare tumours. In recent years, basic research in SI-NETs has attempted to unravel the molecular events underlying SI-NET tumorigenesis. AIM: We aim to provide an overview of the current literature regarding prognostic and predictive molecular factors in patients with SI-NETs. METHOD: A PubMed search was conducted on (epi)genetic prognostic factors in SI-NETs from 2000 until 2019...

Spinal metastasis of neuro-endocrine tumours (NETs) usually arise from a primary in the lung. We encountered such a patient with NET metastasis to T6 vertebra causing severe cord compression. Considering the neurological status, immediate decompression surgery along with T3-T8 posterior stabilization was done. Early recurrence of the tumour causing near total obliteration of the spinal canal leading to significant neurological compromise was noted within one month of surgery. A second surgery at this stage was avoided due to the risk involved and concurrent chemo-radiotherapy was initiated...

The progressive accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide is neurotoxic and leads to Alzheimer's type dementia. Accumulation of Aβ has been associated with dysfunction of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines. In this study, we investigated the effect of 1`δ-1`-acetoxyeugenol acetate (DAEA), isolated from Alpinia galanga (L.), on Aβ(25-35) induced neurodegeneration in mice. Mice were treated with three different doses of DAEA (12.5 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) for 28 days...

PURPOSE: A positive circumferential resection margin (CRM) is regarded as a poor prognostic indicator in oesophageal cancer (OC) but its prediction can be challenging. MRI is used to predict a threatened CRM in rectal cancer but is not commonly performed in OC unlike PET/CT, which is now routinely used. Therefore, this study assessed the additional predictive value of PET-defined tumour variables compared with EUS and CT T-stage. The prognostic significance of CRM status was also assessed...

BACKGROUND: Skin, nervous tissue, dopamine and melanoma share a common neuroectodermal origin. Hence, processes that modulate nervous tissue formation, patient mental status, motor regulation of individuals, and skin cancerogenesis are inextricably linked. Psycho-neuro-endocrine oncology (or dermato-oncology), i.e. P.N.E.O., is a new model or trend in medicine and science presented for the first time in the world literature by us, that aims to examine the relationship between the mental state, the hormones and the malignant transformation...

CONTEXT: Clinical phenotype variability in MEN1 syndrome exists and evidence for an established genotype-phenotype is lacking. However, a higher aggressiveness of MEN1-associated gastro-entero-pancreatic (GEP) (neuro)endocrine tumours (NETs) tumours has been reported when MEN1 gene truncating mutations are detected. We found a novel germline truncating mutation of MEN1 gene at exon 10 in a subject with an aggressive clinical behavior of GEP-NETs. Successively, other two mutant-affected familial members have been identified...

PURPOSE: To evaluate neuroendocrine late effects in paediatric patients with low grade glioma (LGG) who underwent radiotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIAL: We performed a retrospective evaluation of 40 children with LGG treated from July 2002 to January 2015 with external radiotherapy. Tumour locations were cerebral hemisphere (n=2); posterior fossa (n=15); hypothalamic-pituitary axis (HPA, n=15); spine (n=5). Three patients presented a diffuse disease. We looked for a correlation between endocrine toxicity and tumour and treatment parameters...

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 is a rare autosomal inherited disorder associated with a high risk for patients to simultaneously develop tumors of the parathyroid glands, duodenopancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and tumors of the anterior pituitary gland. Early identification of MEN1 in patients enables presymptomatic screening of manifestations, which makes timely interventions possible with the intention to prevent morbidity and mortality. Causes of death nowadays have shifted toward local or metastatic progression of malignant neuroendocrine tumors...

INTRODUCTION: Gastric neuro-endocrine tumours are rare. European guidelines for the management of neuro-endocrine tumours have been published in 2012. The aim of our survey was to study the management of gastric neuro-endocrine tumours registered in the national cohort. A prospective national cohort registers the Neuro-endocrine tumours in France since January 2003 (GTE network). We reviewed all the individual medical reports of gastric neuro-endocrine tumours in order to collect data on treatment...

INTRODUCTION: Since the WHO Classification of Tumours of the Digestive System has been published in 2010, resected pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (pNETs) are graded as grade 1 (G1), grade 2 (G2) or grade 3 (G3) using the Ki67 labelling index (Ki67-LI). Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is often used for diagnosis, but few studies have assessed its value for grading. AIMS: The aims of this study were to compare the Ki67-LI obtained by cytological grading (cG) with that obtained by histological grading (hG) and to assess (1) the influence of tumour size and the number of counted cells on FNA grading as well as (2) the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival based on cG...

Pheochromocytoma is a catecholamine secreting tumor that originate from chromaffin cells. Usually, it is solid neoplasm of the adrenal medulla, however cystic pheochromocytoma is a rare neuro-endocrine tumour that is frequently asymptomatic and often diagnosed incidentally on imaging or intra-operatively. Only a few cases of cystic pheochromocytomas have been reported in the world literature. We present a case of giant cystic pheochromocytoma in a 65 years old lady who presented with a large retroperitoneal lump, which is probably the world's third largest pheochromocytoma as per the available indexed literature...

BACKGROUND: Pituitary carcinoma is defined by either metastases outside the central nervous system or noncontiguous foci within the central nervous system. This case report details the first documented case of a pathologically isolated follicle-stimulating hormone-secreting pituitary carcinoma and its presentation of metastasis. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 63-year-old man developed intrascapular pain radiating up his neck to his occiput. He had undergone a transsphenoidal hypophysectomy 2 years previously for an atypical pituitary macroadenoma...

BACKGROUND: Anecdotally, increasing number of patients are seen at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) with brain tumour. Neuro-ophthalmic symptoms and signs may help in timely diagnosis and intervention. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the neuro-ophthalmic and clinical characteristics of brain tumour in patients presenting at a tertiary hospital in Ghana. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective case series involving 36 consecutive patients newly diagnosed with brain tumour from November 2010 to October 2011, at the Ophthalmology, Neurosurgery and Endocrine units of KBTH, Ghana...

BACKGROUND: As a tissue-sparing procedure, pancreatic enucleation has become an alternative for benign or borderline pancreatic tumours; it has been proved to be safe and feasible. To date, a large sample size of robotic pancreatic enucleation has not been reported. This study aimed to discuss the clinical evaluation and postoperative complications after robotic pancreatic enucleation and compare it with open surgery. METHODS: Patients who underwent robotic or open pancreatic enucleation during December 2010-December 2014 at Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, affiliated with the Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine in China, were included...

INTRODUCTION: Optimal management of paediatric patients with tumours may include radiation therapy. Proton therapy, in theory, should achieve superior outcomes. For children referred overseas, multiple factors are taken into consideration. AIM AND METHODS: The purpose of this article is to provide context to current decision making. The MEDLINE, EMBASE and PubMed databases were searched for relevant literature. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The delivery of proton therapy is in evolution...

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare tumour of the skin of neuro-endocrine origin probably developing from neuronal mechanoreceptors. A collaborative group of multidisciplinary experts form the European Dermatology Forum (EDF), The European Association of Dermato-Oncology (EADO) and the European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) was formed to make recommendations on MCC diagnosis and management, based on a critical review of the literature, existing guidelines and expert's experience...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Our study aimed to assess the sensitivity of EUS and EUS-FNA for pancreatic neuro-endocrine tumors (pNETs) and compare performance over two consecutive 4 year 2 month periods, to investigate the comparative performance between solid and cystic pNETs and determine the incremental yield of EUS +/- FNA in individuals with a mass not diagnosed as a pNET after cross-sectional imaging. METHODS: A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was carried out to identify all pNET patients who underwent EUS-FNA between April 2003 and September 2011...

BACKGROUND: Limited surgical procedures for benign cystic neoplasms and endocrine tumours of the pancreas have the potential advantage of pancreatic tissue sparing compared to standard oncological resections. METHODS: Searching PubMed/MedLine, Embase and Cochrane Library identified 86 full papers: 25 reporting on enucleation (EN), 38 on central pancreatectomy (CP) and 23 on duodenum-preserving total/partial pancreatic head resection (DPPHRt/p). The results are based on analysis of data of 838, 912 and 431 patients for EN, CP and DPPHRt/s, respectively...

Pancreatic endocrine tumours are rare in occurrence. They may present with a baffling range of symptoms which pose a diagnostic dilemma. Two cases of pancreatic insulinoma are presented herewith. Both presented with neuro-psychiatric complaints and were treated symptomatically for depression, anxiety, seizures etc. The diagnosis in these patients was missed for years. Insulinoma being a great diagnostic challenge, requires reasonably high clinical suspicion, accurate biochemical diagnosis and radiological localization to avoid extensive surgery...

Primitive Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) of the eyelid is a malign cutaneous neuro-endocrine tumour that originates in Merkel cells; which are situated along the border of the eyelid between the eyelashes. It is a rare, very aggressive and metastasising tumour. The histo-pathological diagnosis may require an immuno-histochemical and ultrastructural analysis. The authors describe the clinical case of a 65-year-old woman with palpebral MCC that appeared suddenly over a period of three months. The correct therapeutic strategy for Merkel cell cancer is a radical, aggressive and early removal of the tumour at its initial stage, in order to reduce the risk of a distant recurrence and to improve the survival rate...