The field of neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) is becoming more and more attractive and better known. Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Multidisciplinary Approach, published by Karger for the series Frontiers of Hormone Research, is edited by Mauro Papotti, Professor of Pathology at the University of Turin, and Wouter W. De Herder, Professor of Endocrine Oncology at Erasmus MC, Rotterdam. The book, written with the participation of international experts, has the ambitious goal of synthesizing and updating the state of the art of scientific publications concerning NETs. Clinical interest in these neoplasms is rapidly increasing not only because of their growing epidemiological importance, although they are still considered rare, but also because of innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

The book, that comprises 270 pages, with 51 figures, 26 in colour, and 27 tables, is organized according to an interesting approach based on areas of interest, which allow the assessment of all treatment issues from multiple points of view. Starting from purely epidemiologically relevant issues, the most modern multidisciplinary approaches are discussed, analysing overall aspects of an ideal diagnostic and therapeutic process to which patients are subjected.

There are sections entirely devoted to laboratory markers, pathological characteristics and imaging techniques, including both traditional procedures and nuclear medicine. Particular emphasis is given to new PET radiotracers, that are compared in relation to their accuracy, and also their availability in different geographical areas, which is different in European and other countries and between major Institutions and peripheral nuclear medicine laboratories. Each section starts with a short introduction, in which salient features of the chapter are summarized, and enriched by a wide range of images which support the most significant contributions in the scientific field by leading experts. The rigorous, up to date and diverse content is expressed with fluid and understandable language, allowing full appreciation of the subjects addressed.

Particular attention is devoted not only to NETs of the gastroenteropancreatic tract (GEP-NETs), but also to those detectable in other regions, including the lungs and thymus. In this way, gaps and fragmentary descriptions in the literature regarding these issues are filled. In this sense, the chapters devoted to radionuclide therapy of NETs are also significant, and include data derived from large multicentre randomized trials in progress (LUNA trial, RADIANT IV). Their imminent conclusion lays the foundation for an increasing awareness of the trend towards targeted therapy assessed in the individual patient.

Ultimately the combination of a rigorous and multidisciplinary approach with a valid and up to date bibliography make this book highly recommended. Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Multidisciplinary Approach may become a reference publication for students who wish to explore the fascinating world of NETs, and also for all medical specialists in various disciplines, for example those involved in clinical, surgical and diagnostic imaging, among others. This book provides the basis for specific knowledge of these neoplasms stimulating the acquisition of further clinical insight and interest in scientific research.