| Neuroendocrine tumor | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Micrograph of a neuroendocrine tumor. H&E stain. | |
| Specialty | Endocrine oncology  |
Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are neoplasms that arise from cells of the endocrine (hormonal) and nervous systems. They most commonly occur in the intestine, where they are often called carcinoid tumors, but they are also found in the pancreas, lung, and the rest of the body.
Although there are many kinds of NETs, they are treated as a group of tissue because the cells of these neoplasms share common features, including a similar histological appearance, having special secretory granules, and often producing biogenic amines and polypeptide hormones.[1]
The term "neuro" refers to the dense core granules (DCGs), similar to the DCGs in the serotonergic neurons storing monoamines. The term "endocrine" refers to the synthesis and secretion of these monoamines. The neuroendocrine system includes endocrine glands such as the pituitary, the parathyroids and the neuroendocrine adrenals, as well as endocrine islet tissue embedded within glandular tissue such as in the pancreas, and scattered cells in the exocrine parenchyma. The latter is known as the diffuse endocrine system.[2][3]
- ^ Ramage JK, Davies AH, Ardill J, Bax N, Caplin M, Grossman A, et al. (June 2005). "Guidelines for the management of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine (including carcinoid) tumours". Gut. 54. 54 (Suppl 4): iv1–i16. doi:10.1136/gut.2004.053314. PMC 1867801. PMID 15888809.
- ^ Scalettar BA, Jacobs C, Fulwiler A, Prahl L, Simon A, Hilken L, Lochner JE (September 2012). "Hindered submicron mobility and long-term storage of presynaptic dense-core granules revealed by single-particle tracking". Developmental Neurobiology. 72 (9): 1181–1195. doi:10.1002/dneu.20984. PMC 3512567. PMID 21976424.
- ^ Oronsky B, Ma PC, Morgensztern D, Carter CA (December 2017). "Nothing But NET: A Review of Neuroendocrine Tumors and Carcinomas". Neoplasia. 19 (12): 991–1002. doi:10.1016/j.neo.2017.09.002. PMC 5678742. PMID 29091800.