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An Overview of Neuroendocrine Tumors
An Overview of Neuroendocrine Tumors
Ali A Ghazi M.D.
Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences,
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences.
Tehran, Iran
NEUROENDOCRINE tumors are a group of non-homogeneous neoplasms arising from different organs that share in common the ability to elaborate and secret a wide range of substances.
- In first decade of 20th century, a different group of small intestinal tumors were diagnosed that seemed not to be truly malignant, hence were named carcinoid tumors.
- In 1938 it was discovered that some of these tumors are really malignant.
- Ability of the cells to secret serotonin was discovered in 1953.
- The tumors originate from a group of cells widely dispersed in different organs.
- These cells were formerly named Amine Precursor Uptake and Décorboxilation (APUD) cells and tumors originating from those were called carcinoids or apudomas.
At present this cellular system is called Diffuse Neuroendocrine System (DNES) Cells and the tumors originating from those, are collectively named neuroendocrine tumors (NET).
