Gastric neuroendocrine tumors: A review of pathology and updated roadmap to surgical management.

Abstract

Neuroendocrine tumors are a rare cancer, with those arising in gastric tissue even less commonly. With increasing recognition through endoscopy, these tumors are diagnosed in more patients each year. As a rare and growing entity, our understanding of these tumors, the way we characterize them, and treatment are changing rapidly. Thus, we sought to provide an updated review of pathology and management, highlighting the latest guidelines and evidence for surgical treatment. Much of the general treatment paradigm is from consensus guidelines put forth by the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society and the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society; however, future research is needed to help guide further surgical decision-making around intermediate grade and intermediate size type III tumors, as well as systemic therapies in the perioperative and nonoperative settings for high-grade tumors.