Well-differentiated Neuroendocrine Tumor : Treatment & Prognosis

Comments:
Treatment of Well-differentiated Neuroendocrine Tumors of GI Tract: Small polypoid tumors can be dealt with by endoscopic polypectomy. Larger tumors or those with ulcerated overlying mucosa require surgical excision of the involved segment of bowel. One-third of patients have regional nodal or distant metastases at the time of diagnosis. Overall survival ranges from 42% (colonic tumors) to 72% (rectal tumors).

The only reliable indictor of malignant behavior is the presence of metastases. Features associated with malignancy include size > 2 cm, two or more mitoses/10 HPF, angiolymphatic invasion, or invasion of overlying rectal mucosa.

The image shows higher magnification of the previous image showing glandular and trabecular carcinoid tumor cells with uniform oval shaped nuclei. Image courtesy of: Jian-Hua Qiao, MD, Los Angeles, California, USA. Used with permission.