Epidemiology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Epidemiology, including details on twin studies, statistics, environmental and genetic factors.

Epidemiology of non-gastroenteropancreatic (neuro)endocrine tumours.

Ferolla P, Faggiano A, Avenia N, Milone F, Masone S, Giampaglia F, Puma F, Daddi G, Angeletti G, Lombardi G, Santeusanio F, Colao A

Department of Internal Medicine and Endocrine Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.

The widespread availability and reliability of immunohistochemical techniques in the last three decades have allowed researchers to identify cells with common neuroendocrine markers in virtually every organ. As a whole, these neuroendocrine cells form the so-called diffuse neuroendocrine system. Tumours arising from the cells of the diffuse neuroendocrine system are defined as (neuro)endocrine tumours (NETs). NETs have been increasingly described in recent years. However, despite the increase in the number of published papers focused on NET, we still lack adequate epidemiological data, particularly for non-gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) NETs. Furthermore, the real incidence of neuroendocrine differentiation for most sites is not completely known and is probably underestimated. As a consequence, data on the clinical features of many NET subgroups are not well known or confusing. For all of these reasons, we have attempted to evaluate the epidemiology of non-GEP NETs, reviewing the limited data available in the literature.

Published 4 January 2007 in Clin Endocrinol (Oxf), 66(1): 1-6.
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