The Christie Charity
Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) arise from cells of the endocrine (hormonal) and nervous systems.
We diagnose and treat a range of NETs which are classified according to where the cancer started in the body:
- Small bowel
- Large bowel
- Appendiceal
- Pancreatic
- Gastric
- Lung
- Pituitary
Rare NETs
We also treat these rare types of NETs found elsewhere in the body:
- Liver
- Gallbladder
- Bile ducts
- Kidneys
- Ovaries
- Testes
- Skin (known as Merkel cell cancer)
- Phaeochromocytoma (arising in the adrenal gland)
- Paragangliomas (arising outside the adrenal gland)
Carcinoid Syndrome
We also treat these NETs (more commonly located in the small bowel, large bowel or appendix), which can overproduce a hormone-like substance called serotonin to cause a collection of symptoms called the carcinoid syndrome.
Other NETs that can cause symptoms
These include:
- Insulinomas
- Gastrinomas
- Glucagonomas
- VIPomas
- Somatostatinomas
Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) arise from cells of the endocrine (hormonal) and nervous systems. They most commonly occur in the intestine, where they are often called carcinoid tumours, but they are also found in the pancreas, lung and the rest of the body. Neuroendocrine tumours are classified according to where the cancer started (where the primary tumour is) in the body. For example:
- Small bowel NETs
- Large bowel NETs
- Appendiceal NETs
- Pancreatic NETs
- Gastric NETs
- Lung NETs
- Pituitary NETs
Rarely, NETs are found in other locations in the body such as the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, kidneys, ovaries or testes or in the skin and is called Merkel cell cancer.
A number of NETs can cause symptoms due to overproduction of hormones. Some NETs, more commonly located in the small bowel, large bowel or appendix, may overproduce a hormone-like substance called serotonin and cause a characteristic collection of symptoms called the carcinoid syndrome. Other NETs that can cause symptoms are insulinomas, gastrinomas, glucagonomas, VIPomas and somatostatinomas.
Phaeochromocytoma (arising in the adrenal gland) and paragangliomas (arising outside the adrenal gland) are rare types of NETs that arise from the same tissue and treatment for these types of NETs is also available at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.