Neuroendocrine tumor, or NET, is a rare type of cancer that originate in neuroendocrine cells throughout the body.1 They are often found in the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, or pancreas. The annual age-adjusted incidence of NETs was 6.98 per 100 000 persons by 2012.2 NETs can be defined as functional or nonfunctional.3 Functional NET are characterized by symptoms caused by the over-secretion of hormones and other substances, while nonfunctional NETs may be clinically silent.
Symptoms may appear if the tumor produces hormones or grows into surrounding tissues and organs. Non-specific signs and symptoms of NET include, but are not limited to, abdominal pain, diarrhea, flushing.4
NET tend to grow slowly and can have no symptoms or vague symptoms that can be mistaken for other conditions. As a result, NET is often diagnosed at an advanced stage.5
