Echocardiography in functional midgut neuroendocrine tumors: When and how often

Neuroendocrine hepatic metastatic disease: the surgeon's perspective

Neuroendocrine tumors are a rare subset of tumors that are increasing in incidence over the last 4 decades. These tumors occur along the gastrointestinal tract and bronchopulmonary tree and frequently metastasize. Up to 90% of patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors develop liver metastases (NeLM) during their clinical course. The development of NeLM and their appropriate management has a profound impact on patient morbidity and mortality. Workup of NeLM involves biopsy to define tumor grade, cross-sectional imaging to delineate the distribution and number of metastases, and hormonal studies to determine tumor functionality. Depending on these three factors, a combination of cytoreductive surgery, liver-directed therapies, and medical management-with cytostatic and cytotoxic chemotherapies, is utilized. The multidisciplinary management of patients with NeLM should carefully consider all these factors.

Update in carcinoid heart disease - the heart of the matter

Carcinoid heart disease (CHD) is a paraneoplastic cardiac manifestation occurring in patients with carcinoid syndrome (CS) and advanced neuroendocrine malignancy. In about 20-40% of patients with CS, chronic exposure to tumor-released circulating vasoactive peptides typically results in right-sided valvular fibrosis leading to valve dysfunction and right heart failure. CHD remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The management of patients with CHD is complex, as both the systemic malignant disease and the heart involvement have to be addressed. Early diagnosis and timely surgical intervention in selected patients are of utmost importance and offer a survival benefit. In patients with advanced carcinoid heart disease, valve replacement surgery is the most effective option to alleviate cardiac symptoms and contribute to survival outcomes. A collaboration of a multidisciplinary team in centers with experience is required to provide optimal patient management. Here, we review the current literature regarding CHD presentation, pathophysiology, diagnostic tools, and available treatment strategies.

Black swans - neuroendocrine tumors of rare locations

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) are rare and heterogeneous. Therefore, they often remain unrecognized for many years, causing significant disease burden. We here report on four unusual NEN presentations including a metastatic NEN of the kidney, hypoglycemia caused by an insulin-like growth factor-2-oma (previously called non-islet-cell tumor hypoglycemia), multifocal pheochromocytoma in von Hippel Lindau syndrome, and ileal NEN metastatic to the heart. One could say that each one of these tumors were "black swans" and learning about them will increase further awareness of the spectrum of NEN.