Primary renal carcinoid tumor: A radiologic review

Abstract

Carcinoid tumor is the classic famous anonym of neuroendocrine neoplasms. Primary renal carcinoid tumors are extremely rare, first described by Resnick and colleagues in 1966, with fewer than a total of 100 cases reported in the literature. Thus, given the paucity of cases, the clinical and histological behavior is not well understood, impairing the ability to predict prognosis. Computed tomography and (occasionally) octreotide studies are used in the diagnosis and followup of these rare entites. A review of 85 cases in the literature shows that no distinctive imaging features differentiate them from other primary renal masses. The lesions tend to demonstrate a hypodense appearance and do not usually enhance in the arterial phases, but can occasionally calcify. Octreotide scans do not seem to help in the diagnosis; however, they are more commonly used in the postoperative followup. In addition, we report a new case of primary renal carcinoid in a horseshoe kidney.

Primary renal well‐differentiated neuroendocrine tumour (carcinoid): next‐generation sequencing study of 11 cases

“…Renal NET presents as an incidental finding in more than one‐quarter of the patients and it was present in 80% of cases in the study of Aung et al . Carcinoid syndrome is a rare clinical presentation described in <5% of patients . None of our cases was associated with carcinoid syndrome.…”

“…26 Renal NET presents as an incidental finding in more than one-quarter of the patients 26 and it was present in 80% of cases in the study of Aung et al 35 Carcinoid syndrome is a rare clinical presentation described in <5% of patients. 38 None of our cases was associated with carcinoid syndrome. Tumours often present in a higher stage at diagnosis, frequently with metastatic involvement at the time of diagnosis or with metastatic spread early after surgery (in more than half of cases).…”

“…Primary well‐differentiated renal NET (hereafter referred to as renal NET) is rare, with ~100 cases reported in the literature, mainly as case reports or small series (the largest original study described 21 tumours) …”

Robotic-assisted laparoscopic resection of a primary renal neuroendocrine carcinoma

“…No established guidelines exist for the diagnosis and management of primary RNCs owing to the rarity of the disease. Additionally, no radiological features exist to differentiate RNC from other primary renal tumours 4 5. Although 20% of RNCs are discovered incidentally, the clinical presentation can include abdominal pain, flank pain, weight loss and haematuria 2.…”

Primary Renal Well-differentiated Neuroendocrine Tumor Extending Into the Inferior Vena Cava

“…Lamb et al radiographically reviewed 85 samples of primary renal NETs and found no distinctive imaging features to differentiate them from other renal masses. 1 In the absence of a high degree of suspicion for NET based on clinical presentation or radiographic findings, the contemporary preoperative and operative management of primary renal NET remains similar to that of typical renal masses.…”