Neuroendocrine tumours

Neuroendocrine tumours are being discovered more and more frequently, but they are rare and very diverse. They develop when what are called neuroendocrine cells degenerate. These cells originate from nerve cells and produce various messenger substances and hormones. In healthy people, they are distributed throughout the gastrointestinal tract and play an important role in digestion and metabolism. Like all cells, they can degenerate and form neuroendocrine tumours.

MEN syndrome

These tumours are common in MEN syndrome, a rare genetic syndrome. MEN stands for "multiple endocrine neoplasia" and is a generic term for several rare inherited diseases in which several (multiple) different tumours (neoplasia) can develop in hormone-producing (endocrine) organs. However, neuroendocrine tumours can also develop without a specific cause and independently of MEN syndrome.

From insulinoma to carcinoid syndrome

Like the neuroendocrine cells themselves, these tumours can be found throughout the gastrointestinal tract, including the pancreas, but also in the lungs. Depending on where the tumours are located and which hormones they produce, they cause specific clinical pictures. In insulinomas, for example, the tumour located in the pancreas produces insulin. As a result, hypoglycaemia occurs again and again as soon as the person concerned is sober for a longer period of time.

Another example is the so-called carcinoid syndrome. The tumour is usually located in the small intestine and produces the hormone serotonin. This hormone dilates the blood vessels, which causes flushing. It also stimulates bowel activity, causing more fluid to be released into the bowel, resulting in severe watery diarrhoea. The tricky part is that the symptoms only appear when there are liver metastases. There are many other hormones that can cause specific symptoms. But these are much rarer.

Slow growth and good survival rates

In addition, there are many neuroendocrine tumours that do not produce hormones and are often discovered as an incidental finding when metastases are already present. However, most neuroendocrine tumours grow very slowly, so that survival rates are significantly better than for other tumours, even if metastases have already formed at the time of diagnosis.

For more information and to share experiences, patients, relatives and doctors can contact neuroendocrine tumours support group: www.glandula-net-online.de