Abstract
A spectrum of neuroendocrine (NE) neoplasms (NENs) exists, including well differentiated (generally low grade) tumors and the highly aggressive poorly differentiated small and large cell carcinomas. The latter are relatively homogeneous tumors in different organs and recapitulate the more common pulmonary counterparts. Well differentiated neoplasms occur more commonly in the gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) area, lung, and thymus, either as sporadic forms or in the setting of inherited tumor syndromes. These tumors are however differently classified and labeled. Precursor lesions have been identified (as microscopic findings only), including NE cell hyperplasia and “microcarcinoids” in the stomach and lung (in the latter termed tumorlets, defined as peribronchial NETs having a size not exceeding 5 mm).
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Volante, M., Papotti, M. (2016). Pathology of Neuroendocrine Tumors. In: Ambrosini, V., Fanti, S. (eds) PET/CT in Neuroendocrine Tumors. Clinicians’ Guides to Radionuclide Hybrid Imaging(). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29203-8_2
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