The Enigma of Carcinoids

Are Facultative Reserve ISCs the Cellular Origin of Familial Small Intestinal Neuroendocrine Tumors?

“…[1][2][3][4][5] Clinical diagnosis of SI-NET is difficult owing to their slow tumor growth and mild symptoms, and many patients with SI-NET are often diagnosed late with advanced disease and a poor prognosis. [1][2][3][4][5] Earlier studies proposed that these tumors were derived from intraepithelial enteroendocrine cells (EECs). 1,2 The primary candidate for the cellular origin of SI-NETs is the serotonin-producing enterochromaffin cells (EC); however, the exact histogenesis of SI-NETS has not been defined.…”

Midgut neuroendocrine tumor presenting with acute intestinal ischemia

“…Nets consist of a heterogeneous tumor group which originate from neuroendocrine cells and secrete various bioamines and peptides[ 12 ]. The incidence of NETs has increased from 1.9 to 5.2 per 100000 people per year over the last three decades.…”

“…Small intestine neuroendocrine tumors arise from intestinal enterochromaffin cells and can be recognized by typical tumor cell serotonin immunoreactivity. They account for 1/4 of all small intestine neoplasms and present at a mean age of 65 years with a slight male predominance[ 1 , 2 , 9 , 12 ]. Due to the absence of specific clinical manifestations except for the carcinoid syndrome, along with the absence of specific blood biomarkers, there is usually a notable delay in the establishment of the correct diagnosis[ 9 , 12 ].…”

“…They account for 1/4 of all small intestine neoplasms and present at a mean age of 65 years with a slight male predominance[ 1 , 2 , 9 , 12 ]. Due to the absence of specific clinical manifestations except for the carcinoid syndrome, along with the absence of specific blood biomarkers, there is usually a notable delay in the establishment of the correct diagnosis[ 9 , 12 ]. Similarly, in our case, the patient suffered from atypical episodes of abdominal pain and loss of weight a year before she irreversibly deteriorated and presented to the emergency department.…”

“…Mesenteric metastases occur in high frequency and mainly concern the regional mesenteric and paraaortic lymph nodes. In a recent large series of patients with small intestine NET, mesenteric metastases presented on 93% of operated patients at operation, whereas 61% also had liver metastases[ 9 , 12 ]. When the liver is involved, carcinoid syndrome may develop.…”