Gallbladder Neuroendocrine Tumors: Is There a Need for a Specific Approach?

Abstract

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETS) of the Gallbladder or the biliary tree are rare. Most of the current guidelines and protocols are derived from the experience of managing Lung small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNEC) or gastrointestinal (GI) NETS. But the overall outcome of Gallbladder NETS (GB NETS) seems worse than similarly staged lung NETS and adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder. This may be due to its rarity and lack of literature for a focused approach towards its treatment. Hence the need for a specifically designed approach might help improve the results of treatment for these rare tumours. We share our experience of two patients with GB NETS and their 5-year outcome.

Neuroendocrine neoplasm of the gallbladder: Clinical features, surgical efficacy, and prognosis

“…Owing to its low incidence and controversial clinical features, gallbladder NEN is often compared with adenocarcinoma, and several imaging features can be used to differentiate between the two 31–33 . However, different studies have arrived at different conclusions regarding the prognosis of gallbladder NEN.…”

“…Owing to its low incidence and controversial clinical features, gallbladder NEN is often compared with adenocarcinoma, and several imaging features can be used to differentiate between the two. 31 , 32 , 33 However, different studies have arrived at different conclusions regarding the prognosis of gallbladder NEN. Three studies, involving 10, 15, and 28 patients with gallbladder NEN, reported a worse prognosis in patients with gallbladder NEN than those with adenocarcinoma.…”

Mixed Neuroendocrine and Non-Neuroendocrine Neoplasm of Pancreas: What Do We Know, What Have We Learnt?

“…But these treatment protocols lack the support of randomized large trials and hence should be cautiously used and scrutinized from time to time. [7, 11]…”

“…In a meta-analysis, the MINEN lesions’ median progression-free survival was 5–6 months and median overall survival was 12–18 months, which is similar to advanced carcinomas. [7, 11] In another study with MINEN patients, the overall survival was 44.5 months and median recurrence-free survival was 12.5 months. Observation to be noted in this study was the use of multimodal treatment strategy (chemotherapy ± radiotherapy) versus surgery alone that prolonged the overall survival from 75 months in the former group to 18.9 months in the latter group [18].…”

Gallbladder primary well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor: A misdiagnosed case

“…This pathology affects women aged in their sixties [ 14 ]. Ayabé et al [ 17 ] analyzed 754 patients with GBNEN, the majority of whom were women (69 %).…”