Understanding Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs)
Neuroendocrine tumors, or NETs for short, are a special type of tumor that doctors need to pay attention to. They are different from other tumors because they behave in unique ways and can have different outcomes and treatments. Knowing about NETs is really important for doctors to diagnose them correctly, plan the best treatments, and predict how patients might do over time.
NETs come from a type of cell called neuroendocrine cells, which can be found in many places in the body. They can develop in different organs, including:
NETs can behave differently. They can be grouped into three categories:
Doctors often use something called the Ki-67 index to understand how quickly the tumors might be growing.
NETs are not very common. In the U.S., about 6.9 out of every 100,000 people are diagnosed with them. However, more people are being recognized with NETs today than in the past. For example, diagnoses of digestive NETs increased by about 500% from 1973 to 2012!
NETs are significant for several reasons:
Different Behaviors: NETs can act in many different ways. Some low-grade tumors don’t cause any symptoms and are only found by chance. In contrast, high-grade tumors can be much more aggressive and dangerous. For example, the chance of surviving for five years with a well-differentiated NET might be over 90%. But for badly differentiated NETs, that number can drop to below 30%.
Hormones and Symptoms: Many NETs produce hormones that can cause specific health problems. For instance:
Challenges in Diagnosis: NETs can be tricky to diagnose because they can show up in many forms and sometimes look similar to other tumors. For example, doctors might confuse small cell lung cancer with similar types of tumors, which can lead to the wrong treatment.
Recognizing NETs helps doctors choose the right treatment. Some common treatments include:
Knowing about neuroendocrine tumors is very important for doctors. It helps them make accurate diagnoses and create effective treatment plans. As more people are diagnosed with NETs, it’s essential for future medical professionals to learn about them to provide the best care possible.
Understanding Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs)
Neuroendocrine tumors, or NETs for short, are a special type of tumor that doctors need to pay attention to. They are different from other tumors because they behave in unique ways and can have different outcomes and treatments. Knowing about NETs is really important for doctors to diagnose them correctly, plan the best treatments, and predict how patients might do over time.
NETs come from a type of cell called neuroendocrine cells, which can be found in many places in the body. They can develop in different organs, including:
NETs can behave differently. They can be grouped into three categories:
Doctors often use something called the Ki-67 index to understand how quickly the tumors might be growing.
NETs are not very common. In the U.S., about 6.9 out of every 100,000 people are diagnosed with them. However, more people are being recognized with NETs today than in the past. For example, diagnoses of digestive NETs increased by about 500% from 1973 to 2012!
NETs are significant for several reasons:
Different Behaviors: NETs can act in many different ways. Some low-grade tumors don’t cause any symptoms and are only found by chance. In contrast, high-grade tumors can be much more aggressive and dangerous. For example, the chance of surviving for five years with a well-differentiated NET might be over 90%. But for badly differentiated NETs, that number can drop to below 30%.
Hormones and Symptoms: Many NETs produce hormones that can cause specific health problems. For instance:
Challenges in Diagnosis: NETs can be tricky to diagnose because they can show up in many forms and sometimes look similar to other tumors. For example, doctors might confuse small cell lung cancer with similar types of tumors, which can lead to the wrong treatment.
Recognizing NETs helps doctors choose the right treatment. Some common treatments include:
Knowing about neuroendocrine tumors is very important for doctors. It helps them make accurate diagnoses and create effective treatment plans. As more people are diagnosed with NETs, it’s essential for future medical professionals to learn about them to provide the best care possible.