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{{Neuroendocrine tumors (patient information)}} | {{Neuroendocrine tumors (patient information)}} | ||
{{CMG}} {{ | |||
'''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[Neuroendocrine tumors|here]]''' | |||
{{CMG}} {{AE}} {{S.M.}} {{UJ}} | |||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
A pancreatic islet cell tumor is a rare tumor of the pancreas that starts from a type of cell called the islet cell. | Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are [[cancer]] that arise from [[cell]]s of the [[endocrine]] ([[hormonal]]) and [[nervous system]]s. Many are [[benign]], while some are [[malignant]]. They most commonly occur in the [[intestine]], but are also found in the [[lung]] and the rest of the body. A pancreatic islet cell tumor is a rare tumor of the pancreas that starts from a type of cell called the islet cell. | ||
==What are the symptoms of Neuroendocrine tumors?== | ==What are the symptoms of Neuroendocrine tumors?== | ||
Symptoms depend on which hormone is made by the tumor. | Symptoms depend on which hormone is made by the tumor. | ||
* For example, insulinomas produce insulin, which helps the body lower blood sugar levels. Symptoms may include: | * For example, [[insulinomas]] produce [[insulin]], which helps the body lower [[blood sugar]] levels. Symptoms may include: | ||
** Feeling tired or weak | ** Feeling tired or weak | ||
** Shaking or sweating | ** Shaking or sweating | ||
** Headache | ** [[Headache]] | ||
** Hunger | ** Hunger | ||
** Nervousness, anxiety, or feeling irritable | ** Nervousness, [[anxiety]], or feeling irritable | ||
** Unclear thinking or feeling uneasy | ** Unclear thinking or feeling uneasy | ||
** Double or blurry vision | ** Double or blurry vision | ||
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If your blood sugar gets too low, you may faint, have a seizure, or even go into a coma. | If your blood sugar gets too low, you may faint, have a seizure, or even go into a coma. | ||
* Gastrinomas make the hormone gastrin, which tells the body to make stomach acid. Symptoms may include: | * [[Gastrinomas]] make the hormone [[gastrin]], which tells the body to make stomach acid. Symptoms may include: | ||
** Abdominal pain | ** [[Abdominal pain]] | ||
** Diarrhea | ** [[Diarrhea]] | ||
** Ulcers in the stomach and small bowel | ** [[Ulcers]] in the stomach and small bowel | ||
** Vomiting blood (occasionally) | ** [[Vomiting]] blood (occasionally) | ||
* Glucagonomas make the hormone glucagon, which helps the body raise blood sugar levels. Symptoms can include: | * [[Glucagonomas]] make the hormone [[glucagon]], which helps the body raise blood sugar levels. Symptoms can include: | ||
** Diabetes | ** [[Diabetes]] | ||
** Red, blistery rash in the groin or buttocks | ** Red, blistery [[rash]] in the groin or buttocks | ||
** Weight loss | ** [[Weight loss]] | ||
==What causes Neuroendocrine tumors?== | ==What causes Neuroendocrine tumors?== | ||
In the normal pancreas, cells called islet cells produce hormones that regulate a variety of bodily functions, such as blood sugar level and the production of stomach acid. | In the normal [[pancreas]], cells called [[islet cells]] produce hormones that regulate a variety of bodily functions, such as blood sugar level and the production of [[stomach]] [[acid]]. | ||
Tumors that arise from islet cells of the pancreas can also produce a variety of hormones, though some do not. | Tumors that arise from islet cells of the pancreas can also produce a variety of hormones, though some do not. | ||
Although islet cells produce many different hormones, most tumors release only one hormone that leads to specific symptoms. Pancreatic islet cell tumors can be noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). | Although islet cells produce many different hormones, most [[tumors]] release only one hormone that leads to specific symptoms. Pancreatic islet cell tumors can be noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). | ||
Islet cell tumors include: | Islet cell tumors include: | ||
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* Glucagonomas | * Glucagonomas | ||
* Insulinomas | * Insulinomas | ||
==Who is at highest risk?== | ==Who is at highest risk?== | ||
A family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia, type I (MEN I) is a risk factor for islet cell tumors. | A family history of [[multiple endocrine neoplasia]], type I (MEN I) is a risk factor for islet cell tumors. | ||
==Diagnosis== | ==Diagnosis== | ||
* Blood tests may vary depending upon the symptoms, but may include: | * Blood tests may vary depending upon the symptoms, but may include: | ||
** Fasting glucose level | ** Fasting glucose level | ||
** Gastrin level | ** [[Gastrin level]] | ||
** Glucose tolerance test | ** [[Glucose tolerance test]] | ||
** Secretin stimulation test for pancreas | ** [[Secretin]] stimulation test for pancreas | ||
** Blood glucagon level | ** Blood [[glucagon]] level | ||
** Blood insulin C-peptide | ** Blood [[insulin]] [[C-peptide]] | ||
** Blood insulin level | ** Blood insulin level | ||
* The following imaging tests may be performed: | * The following imaging tests may be performed: | ||
** Abdominal CT scan | ** Abdominal [[CT scan]] | ||
** Abdominal ultrasound | ** Abdominal [[ultrasound]] | ||
** Endoscopic ultrasound | ** Endoscopic ultrasound | ||
** MRI of abdomen | ** [[MRI]] of abdomen | ||
* A blood sample may also be taken from a vein in the pancreas for testing. | * A blood sample may also be taken from a vein in the pancreas for testing. | ||
* Sometimes, surgery is needed to diagnose and treat this condition. During this procedure, the surgeon examines the pancreas by hand and with ultrasound. | * Sometimes, surgery is needed to diagnose and treat this condition. During this procedure, the surgeon examines the pancreas by hand and with ultrasound. | ||
==When to seek urgent medical care?== | ==When to seek urgent medical care?== | ||
Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of these tumors, especially if you have a family history of MEN I. | Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of these tumors, especially if you have a family history of MEN I. | ||
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Treatment depends on the type of tumor and if it is cancerous. | Treatment depends on the type of tumor and if it is cancerous. | ||
* Cancerous tumors can grow quickly, and spread to other organs. They may not be treatable. Tumors are usually removed with surgery, if possible. | * Cancerous tumors can grow quickly, and spread to other organs. They may not be treatable. Tumors are usually removed with surgery, if possible. | ||
* If cancer cells spread to the liver, a part of the liver may also be removed, if possible. If the cancer is widespread, chemotherapy may be used to try and shrink the tumors. | * If cancer cells spread to the liver, a part of the liver may also be removed, if possible. If the cancer is widespread, [[chemotherapy]] may be used to try and shrink the tumors. | ||
* If the abnormal production of hormones is causing symptoms, you may receive medications to counteract their effects. For example, with gastrinomas, the overproduction of gastrin leads to too much acid in the stomach. Medications that block acid release can reduce symptoms. | * If the abnormal production of hormones is causing symptoms, you may receive medications to counteract their effects. For example, with gastrinomas, the overproduction of gastrin leads to too much acid in the stomach. Medications that block acid release can reduce symptoms. | ||
==Where to find medical care for Neuroendocrine tumors?== | ==Where to find medical care for Neuroendocrine tumors?== | ||
[http://maps.google.com/maps?q={{urlencode:{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|map+top+hospital+Neuroendocrine+tumors}}}}&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl Directions to Hospitals Treating Neuroendocrine tumors] | |||
==Prevention of Neuroendocrine tumors== | ==Prevention of Neuroendocrine tumors== | ||
There is no known prevention for these tumors. | There is no known prevention for these tumors. | ||
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==Source== | ==Source== | ||
[http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000393.htm National Library of Medicine] | [http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000393.htm National Library of Medicine] | ||
[[Category:Up-To-Date]] | |||
[[Category:Oncology]] | |||
[[Category:Medicine]] | |||
[[Category:Endocrinology]] | |||
[[Category:Surgery]] | |||
Latest revision as of 21:41, 26 August 2019
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Neuroendocrine tumors |
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Neuroendocrine tumors On the Web |
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For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sara Mohsin, M.D.[2] Ujjwal Rastogi, M.B.B.S. [3]
Overview
Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are cancer that arise from cells of the endocrine (hormonal) and nervous systems. Many are benign, while some are malignant. They most commonly occur in the intestine, but are also found in the lung and the rest of the body. A pancreatic islet cell tumor is a rare tumor of the pancreas that starts from a type of cell called the islet cell.
What are the symptoms of Neuroendocrine tumors?
Symptoms depend on which hormone is made by the tumor.
- For example, insulinomas produce insulin, which helps the body lower blood sugar levels. Symptoms may include:
If your blood sugar gets too low, you may faint, have a seizure, or even go into a coma.
- Gastrinomas make the hormone gastrin, which tells the body to make stomach acid. Symptoms may include:
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Ulcers in the stomach and small bowel
- Vomiting blood (occasionally)
- Glucagonomas make the hormone glucagon, which helps the body raise blood sugar levels. Symptoms can include:
- Diabetes
- Red, blistery rash in the groin or buttocks
- Weight loss
What causes Neuroendocrine tumors?
In the normal pancreas, cells called islet cells produce hormones that regulate a variety of bodily functions, such as blood sugar level and the production of stomach acid.
Tumors that arise from islet cells of the pancreas can also produce a variety of hormones, though some do not.
Although islet cells produce many different hormones, most tumors release only one hormone that leads to specific symptoms. Pancreatic islet cell tumors can be noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant).
Islet cell tumors include:
- Gastrinomas (Zollinger-Ellison syndrome)
- Glucagonomas
- Insulinomas
Who is at highest risk?
A family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia, type I (MEN I) is a risk factor for islet cell tumors.
Diagnosis
- Blood tests may vary depending upon the symptoms, but may include:
- Fasting glucose level
- Gastrin level
- Glucose tolerance test
- Secretin stimulation test for pancreas
- Blood glucagon level
- Blood insulin C-peptide
- Blood insulin level
- The following imaging tests may be performed:
- Abdominal CT scan
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Endoscopic ultrasound
- MRI of abdomen
- A blood sample may also be taken from a vein in the pancreas for testing.
- Sometimes, surgery is needed to diagnose and treat this condition. During this procedure, the surgeon examines the pancreas by hand and with ultrasound.
When to seek urgent medical care?
Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of these tumors, especially if you have a family history of MEN I.
Treatment options
Treatment depends on the type of tumor and if it is cancerous.
- Cancerous tumors can grow quickly, and spread to other organs. They may not be treatable. Tumors are usually removed with surgery, if possible.
- If cancer cells spread to the liver, a part of the liver may also be removed, if possible. If the cancer is widespread, chemotherapy may be used to try and shrink the tumors.
- If the abnormal production of hormones is causing symptoms, you may receive medications to counteract their effects. For example, with gastrinomas, the overproduction of gastrin leads to too much acid in the stomach. Medications that block acid release can reduce symptoms.
Where to find medical care for Neuroendocrine tumors?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Neuroendocrine tumors
Prevention of Neuroendocrine tumors
There is no known prevention for these tumors.
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
You may be cured if the tumors are surgically removed before they have spread to other organs. If tumors are cancerous, chemotherapy may be used, but it usually cannot cure patients.
Life-threatening problems (such as very low blood sugar) can occur due to excess hormone production, or if the cancer spreads throughout the body.
Possible complications
- Diabetes
- Hormone crises (if the tumor releases certain types of hormones)
- Severe low blood sugar (from insulinomas)
- Severe ulcers in the stomach and small intestine (from gastrinomas)
- Spread of the tumor to the liver