Endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine neoplasms

Abstract

The incidence of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) is increasing globally, and gastrointestinal NEN (GI-NEN) is the most common type of NEN. Diagnosis and treatment of GI-NEN are quite different, according to tumor's location, size, background, cell origin, and pathogenesis. Digestive endoscopy has unique advantages in detecting of GI-NEN. However, endoscopist should not perform endoscopic resection arbitrarily, due to the high heterogeneity and complexity of GI-NEN. We need to establish the concept about comprehensive assessment for GI-NEN, including medical history and physical signs, serology, imaging, radionuclide and end·oscopic examination, to make an individualized treatment after rigorous multidisciplinary discussion.