Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Coping
Neuroendocrinecancers are growths that develop when hormone-producing cells of the body start to multiply out of control. These cells form tumors that can release hormones that cause various symptoms.
Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers. They send signals from one cell to another through the bloodstream. These chemicals can have a variety of effects throughout the body. Often, they regulate the body’s basic processes, including growth, development, and metabolism.
The neuroendocrine system includes nerves, glands, and other tissues that work together to produce hormones. Neuroendocrine cancers are diverse tumors forming in many different parts of the body. These cancers have varying causes, symptoms, and prognoses.
This article will review types of neuroendocrine cancer, their general symptoms, how they are diagnosed and treated, and the general prognosis for someone diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer.
shapecharge / Getty Images
Types of Neuroendocrine Cancer
Neuroendocrine tumors are often slow-growing. They are neuroendocrine cancer if they grow quickly and spread from the original site. This spread makes the tumor malignant, which means it’s cancer.
Many types of tumors and cancers develop in the neuroendocrine system, in many parts of the body.
Some examples are:
Neuroendocrine Cancer Symptoms
Symptoms of neuroendocrine cancers are based on the type of tumor, where it is located in the body, and what hormones it releases.
In rare cases, carcinoid tumors (wherever they are located) can release hormones and cause carcinoid syndrome.Symptoms of carcinoid syndromeincludefeeling flushed, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors can make too much of certain hormones, impacting the gastrointestinal system and the rest of the body.
Medullary thyroid cancer may develop as a lump in the throat, causing hoarseness or making it hard to breathe.
Adrenal pheochromocytomasare most often noncancerous tumors, but they can become cancer.Pheochromocytomas may cause symptomslikehigh blood pressure, headaches, irregular heartbeat, and sweating.
Merkel cell tumorsare firm, pink, red, or purple lumps or bumps. They don’t usually hurt but can grow fast and sometimes turn into open sores.
People with neuroendocrine lung tumors maycough,wheeze, developpneumonia(a lung infection), or have chest pain.
People with neuroendocrine cancer may also have more general cancer symptoms, including:
Causes and Risk Factors
There are a variety of causes of neuroendocrine cancers. The cause of most neuroendocrine cancers is unknown, and there are no known avoidable risk factors for these tumors.One neuroendocrine cancer that bucks the trend is small cell lung cancer. Its risk factors include exposure to tobacco smoke.
Factors that increase a person’s risk for neuroendocrine cancer include:
Note that Verywell Health prefers to use inclusive terminology. But when citing health authorities or research, the terms for gender or sex from those sources are used.
Other medical conditions could increase a person’s risk of developing neuroendocrine tumors. For instance, certain digestive diseases that damage the stomach and reduce acid production may increase therisk of gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors.
Risk factors for Merkel cell cancers include infection with Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV), a common virus, but not much is known about it or how it’s linked to this cancer. Ultraviolet (UV) light (from the sun, tanning beds, or skin condition treatment) is also a common risk factor for Merkel cell cancers.
Genetic conditions sometimes cause neuroendocrine cancers. These include:
These tests will include taking a detailed personal and family medical history. They will likely also have imaging studies done to see inside the body and blood tests to see if the body’s hormones are high or low.
The healthcare provider may also want to take a sample of the tissue, called a biopsy, to have it examined under the microscope. This will help them understand if the tumor is cancer and how to treat it.
A healthcare provider may use an endoscope to visualize orbiopsy carcinoid cancerin the upper intestinal tract and pancreas. An endoscope is a flexible tube with a light, camera, and tools. It is inserted through the throat.
Tumors in the colon or rectum may require acolonoscopy, in which a flexible tube with a camera is inserted through the rectum to view the lower digestive system.
They may test for related genetic conditions that may cause neuroendocrine tumors.
Small Cell Lung Cancer: Contending With the Facts
Typically, neuroendocrine cancers are treated with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Some people may also be candidates for treatment with targeted therapy (aimed at specific aspects of the tumor cells) or immunotherapy (which uses the immune system to attack the tumor).
What Is Pheochromocytoma?
Some slow-growing neuroendocrine cancers may be curable. A person with neuroendocrine cancer can enter remission if the tumor is cleanly removed with surgery and hasn’t spread to other body parts.
Your individual prognosis is based on many factors, including the size of the tumor, how much it has spread, what hormones it is making, where it is located, and if the cancer can be removed with surgery.
Survival and prognosis statistics include:
A diagnosis of neuroendocrine cancer can be very upsetting. The tumor may be causing unwelcome symptoms, and treatments can have side effects or cause changes to your body and how you feel.Bring your questions to your treatment team so you understand your treatment options and what to expect.
While processing your diagnosis and going through treatment, lean on your family, friends, and local community for emotional and physical support. In-person or online support groups may be useful at this time, as they have faced a similar challenge and can offer advice and camaraderie.
If you’re experiencing sadness, anxiety, or anger, know this is normal. Ask your care team for access to a mental health professional or counselor to help you cope with the emotional and social effects of having neuroendocrine cancer.
Summary
Neuroendocrine cancers develop in cells that make hormones. These cells grow out of control. They can spread to other body parts.
These cancers make hormones, which can cause many symptoms. Hormones control the body’s basic processes. These include growth, development, and metabolism.
Neuroendocrine tumors develop in many parts of the body—most commonly in the intestines, lungs, and pancreas. Healthcare providers often can’t find a cause for these cancers. Some genetic diseases cause them.
Treatment for neuroendocrine cancers varies. It can include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. The outlook for a person with a neuroendocrine tumor changes. Some neuroendocrine tumors are severe.
A Word From Verywell
Neuroendocrine cancers are a large group with varying symptoms, treatment options, and prognoses. Your outlook is based on many factors, including the size of the tumor, how much it has spread, what hormones it is making, where it is located, and if cancer can be removed with surgery.
Ask your healthcare provider for more information on your specific cancer. Seek out the company of others with your cancer for support.
30 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Definition of neuroendocrine tumor.National Cancer Institute.Definition of endocrine system.Penn Medicine.Types of neuroendocrine tumors.National Cancer Institute.Carcinoid tumor.American Cancer Society.Key statistics about gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.National Cancer Institute.Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC).National Cancer Institute.Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma treatment.National Cancer Institute.Pheochromocytoma.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for Merkel cell carcinoma.American Cancer Society.What is lung cancer?American Cancer Society.Lung cancer statistics.Penn Medicine.Lung neuroendocrine tumors.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.American Cancer Society.What is Merkel cell carcinoma?National Cancer Institute.Neuroendocrine tumor (NET).University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.Neuroendocrine cancer risk factors.Yale Medicine.Small cell lung cancer.American Cancer Society.Merkel cell carcinoma risk factors.MedlinePlus.Hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor syndrome.MedlinePlus.Hereditary paraganglioma-pheochromocytoma.American Cancer Society.If you have a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (NET).Penn Medicine.Drug therapy for neuroendocrine tumors.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for thyroid cancer.National Cancer Institute.Pheochromocytoma.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for Merkel cell carcinoma.American Cancer Society.Lung cancer survival rates.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for lung carcinoid tumors.Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation.The emotions of living with neuroendocrine tumors.
30 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Definition of neuroendocrine tumor.National Cancer Institute.Definition of endocrine system.Penn Medicine.Types of neuroendocrine tumors.National Cancer Institute.Carcinoid tumor.American Cancer Society.Key statistics about gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.National Cancer Institute.Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC).National Cancer Institute.Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma treatment.National Cancer Institute.Pheochromocytoma.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for Merkel cell carcinoma.American Cancer Society.What is lung cancer?American Cancer Society.Lung cancer statistics.Penn Medicine.Lung neuroendocrine tumors.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.American Cancer Society.What is Merkel cell carcinoma?National Cancer Institute.Neuroendocrine tumor (NET).University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.Neuroendocrine cancer risk factors.Yale Medicine.Small cell lung cancer.American Cancer Society.Merkel cell carcinoma risk factors.MedlinePlus.Hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor syndrome.MedlinePlus.Hereditary paraganglioma-pheochromocytoma.American Cancer Society.If you have a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (NET).Penn Medicine.Drug therapy for neuroendocrine tumors.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for thyroid cancer.National Cancer Institute.Pheochromocytoma.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for Merkel cell carcinoma.American Cancer Society.Lung cancer survival rates.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for lung carcinoid tumors.Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation.The emotions of living with neuroendocrine tumors.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Cancer Institute.Definition of neuroendocrine tumor.National Cancer Institute.Definition of endocrine system.Penn Medicine.Types of neuroendocrine tumors.National Cancer Institute.Carcinoid tumor.American Cancer Society.Key statistics about gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.National Cancer Institute.Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC).National Cancer Institute.Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma treatment.National Cancer Institute.Pheochromocytoma.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for Merkel cell carcinoma.American Cancer Society.What is lung cancer?American Cancer Society.Lung cancer statistics.Penn Medicine.Lung neuroendocrine tumors.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.American Cancer Society.What is Merkel cell carcinoma?National Cancer Institute.Neuroendocrine tumor (NET).University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.Neuroendocrine cancer risk factors.Yale Medicine.Small cell lung cancer.American Cancer Society.Merkel cell carcinoma risk factors.MedlinePlus.Hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor syndrome.MedlinePlus.Hereditary paraganglioma-pheochromocytoma.American Cancer Society.If you have a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (NET).Penn Medicine.Drug therapy for neuroendocrine tumors.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for thyroid cancer.National Cancer Institute.Pheochromocytoma.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for Merkel cell carcinoma.American Cancer Society.Lung cancer survival rates.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for lung carcinoid tumors.Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation.The emotions of living with neuroendocrine tumors.
National Cancer Institute.Definition of neuroendocrine tumor.
National Cancer Institute.Definition of endocrine system.
Penn Medicine.Types of neuroendocrine tumors.
National Cancer Institute.Carcinoid tumor.
American Cancer Society.Key statistics about gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors.
American Cancer Society.Key statistics for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.
National Cancer Institute.Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC).
National Cancer Institute.Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma treatment.
National Cancer Institute.Pheochromocytoma.
American Cancer Society.Key statistics for Merkel cell carcinoma.
American Cancer Society.What is lung cancer?
American Cancer Society.Lung cancer statistics.
Penn Medicine.Lung neuroendocrine tumors.
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.
American Cancer Society.What is Merkel cell carcinoma?
National Cancer Institute.Neuroendocrine tumor (NET).
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.Neuroendocrine cancer risk factors.
Yale Medicine.Small cell lung cancer.
American Cancer Society.Merkel cell carcinoma risk factors.
MedlinePlus.Hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor syndrome.
MedlinePlus.Hereditary paraganglioma-pheochromocytoma.
American Cancer Society.If you have a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (NET).
Penn Medicine.Drug therapy for neuroendocrine tumors.
American Cancer Society.Survival rates for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.
American Cancer Society.Survival rates for thyroid cancer.
American Cancer Society.Survival rates for Merkel cell carcinoma.
American Cancer Society.Lung cancer survival rates.
American Cancer Society.Survival rates for lung carcinoid tumors.
Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation.The emotions of living with neuroendocrine tumors.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
