Neuroendocrine tumors of the gastroenteropancreatic tract. A multicentric study

Abstract

Introduction: Neuroendocrine tumors of the gastroenteropancreatic tract is an infrequent group of neoplasias of late diagnosis, and complex treatment.
Objective:To characterize tumors of the gastroenteropancreatic tract clinically, macroscopically, and histopathologically.
Material and method:A cross-sectional descriptive observational study of 54 patients with a histopathological diagnosis of these neoplasias was conducted, confirmed by immunohistochemistry, and diagnosed in the Institute of Gastroenterology, the National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology, and "Hermanos Ameijeiras" Clinical and Surgical Hospital during the period 2008-2014.
Results: The female sex (66,7%), and the 50-69 age group (48,1%) were the most frequent ones. The most reported clinical manifestation was abdominal pain (87%), followed by diarrheas (16.7%), and icterus (14.8%).  The tumors were more frequently located in the small intestine (31,5%), and the pancreas (27,8%).  Polypoideal endoscopic lesion was observed in 88,9% of the patients.  Most of the tumors were smaller than 2 cm. Degree 1 and 2 tumors had the same behavior with regard to frequency (40.7%).  There was no significant statistical association among localization of the tumor, size, and histological degree.
Conclusions:The female sex, and the 50-69 age group predominated in the study; the most frequent clinical symptom was abdominal pain; the lesions were more frequently localized in the small intestine and the pancreas, with a predominance of polypoid form as endoscopic pattern, and tumors smaller than 2 cm.  There was no association among anatomic localization, size of the lesion, and histopathological classification.

Keywords: neuroendocrine tumors, gastroenteropancreatic tract, clinical manifestations, characteristics of the lesions, localization, immunohistochemistry.