Liver transplantation in metastatic intestinal neuroendocrine tumor: a case report and review

Abstract

Endocrine tumors of chromaffin cells are most frequent in the gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, they are the ones of best prognosis. Promising results have been recorded for liver transplantations in case of metastatic gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors. We exhibit a case report of a patient presenting dyspeptic and carcinoid syndrome, hepatic metastasis diagnosis and primary tumor of the ileum detected through scheduled hepatectomy. Liver transplantation was the chosen therapy given the impossibility of hepatectomy due to hepatic metastatic involvement. Liver transplantation is a healing therapeutic option for patients with gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumor in case of unresectable hepatic metastases. It assures more than 50% survival within 5 years in case of primary tumors in the small intestine. Survival is longer in case of liver transplantation after primary tumor resection than in usual palliative treatments such as embolization and chemoembolization. The article points out the importance of the therapeutic management of the neuroendocrine gastrointestinal metastatic tumor, with emphasis on performing liver transplantation as a possible curative treatment.