TITLE:
Neuroendocrine Tumor of Small Intestine, a Diagnostic Challenge
AUTHORS:
Antonia Rosero, Liliana Cuevas, Isabella Odarba, Elio Fabio Sánchez, Samuel Rey
KEYWORDS:
Neuroendocrine Tumor, Carcinoid Tumor, Intestinal Cancer, Diagnostic Laparoscopy, Case Report
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Gastroenterology,
Vol.13 No.4,
April
20,
2023
ABSTRACT: Incidence of neuroendocrine tumors (NET) has significantly increased in the past three decades. In the small intestine, NET are the most frequent tumors, even more frequent than adenocarcinomas. Due to atypical presentations and late symptoms, NET in the small intestine frequently represent a diagnostic challenge. It is important to take these tumors into consideration in differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal neoplasms. Surgeons, oncologists, endocrinologists, and gastroenterologists should understand the disease characteristics and management alternatives. This document aims to review the key points of NET and main diagnostic tools. We present the case of a 50-year-old male who presented lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Imaging and endoscopic studies showed no conclusive findings. A capsule endoscopy showed multiple ulcered lesions with neoplastic aspect in the distal jejune. Due to the multifocal nature of the lesions, clinicians suspected NET-associated digestive bleeding. The patient underwent exploratory laparoscopy with ileectomy and radical abdominal lymphadenectomy. Histopathologic examination confirmed the suspected diagnosis of NET. This case reflects the complexity of diagnostic approach and differential diagnoses for these tumors.