Analysis of primary site and pathology on 903 patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms

Abstract

To explore the primary site and pathological feature of neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN), especially the NEN of digestive system. Clinicopathological data of NEN patients at China-Japan Friendship Hospital from January 2012 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Tumor primary sites were summarized. Association between tumor site and pathological grading in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm(GEP-NEN) was examined. There were a total of 903 cases of NEN. Sites of primary tumor included the digestive system in 699 cases(77.4%), the thorax(including lung, thymus and mediastinum) in 87 cases(9.6%), other sites in 60 cases (6.6%), unknown in 57 cases(6.3%). Among 699 GEP-NEN cases, the primary sites included the stomachin in 207 cases (29.6%), pancreas in 201 (28.8%), rectumin in 185 (26.5%), duodenum in 43(6.2%), jejunum and ileum in 18(2.6%), appendix in 15 (2.1%), gallbladder in 11(1.6%), esophagus in 10(1.4%), and the colon in 9 cases (1.3%). Pathologically, the tumor grading was neuroendocrine tumor (NET) G1 in 336 cases(48.1%), NET G2 in 203 cases (29.0%), neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) G3 in 139 cases (19.9%). All the esophagus NEN(10/10), most gallbladder NEN(9/11) and colon NEN(6/9) were poorly-differentiated NEC (G3), while all appendix NEN(15/15), most stomach NEN(147/207, 71.0%), pancreas NEN (156/201, 77.6%), rectum NEN (169/185, 91.4%), duodenum NEN (31/43, 72.1%), jejunum and ileum NEN(16/18, 88.9%) were well-differentiated NET G1 or G2. The most common primary site of NEN is the digestive system. The stomach, pancreas and rectum are most common primary sitesof GEP-NEN. Difference in pathological grading is quite greatin different primary sites of GEP-NEN. Most NENs fromesophagus, colon and gallbladder are poorly-differentiated NEC.