Abstract
Background/aim It is not always easy to diagnose pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs). The aim of the present study is to make a differential diagnosis by studying the same markers in patients with non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), patients with benign lung disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pneumonia), and healthy volunteers to determine the roles of these markers in pulmonary neuroendocrine tumor diagnosis and to identify their power. Materials and methods A total of 100 participants including 23 PNET patients and 28 NSCLC patients who were pathologically diagnosed but not yet treated, 25 participants with benign disease, and 24 healthy volunteers were included in this cross-sectional study.Results No significant difference was found between the chromogranin A (CgA) and squamous cell carcinoma antigen 1 (SCCA1) values among the groups (PNET, NSCLC, benign, healthy volunteers), but the difference in progesterone-releasing peptide (ProGRP), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and adjusted NSE was statistically significant (P values were respectively ProGRP, P = 0.006; NSE, P = 0.015; NSE adjusted, P = 0.09). In a comparison of the PNET and NSCLC groups, having a ProGRP value higher than 84.6 pg/mL revealed PNET with 60.9% sensitivity and 89.3% specificity (P = 0.001). Conclusion The ProGRP value is the only indicator that distinguishes the PNET group from the other 3 groups.
Highlights
Pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) constitute approximately 20% of lung cancers [1,2,3]
The aim of the present study is to make a differential diagnosis by studying the same markers in patients with non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), patients with benign lung disease, and healthy volunteers to determine the roles of these markers in pulmonary neuroendocrine tumor diagnosis and to identify their power
No significant difference was found between the chromogranin A (CgA) and squamous cell carcinoma antigen 1 (SCCA1) values among the groups (PNET, NSCLC, benign, healthy volunteers), but the difference in progesterone-releasing peptide (ProGRP), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and adjusted NSE was statistically significant (P values were respectively ProGRP, P = 0.006; NSE, P = 0.015; NSE adjusted, P = 0.09)
Summary
Pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) constitute approximately 20% of lung cancers [1,2,3]. With small biopsy specimens, carcinoid tumors may be mistakenly diagnosed as SCLC, whereas LCNT may be misdiagnosed as poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or basaloid carcinoma. In this context, the question is whether the diagnosis of PNET patients can be supported by using some additional tests. The question is whether the diagnosis of PNET patients can be supported by using some additional tests For this purpose, attempts have been made to develop various immunohistochemical and biochemical markers
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