title: New and emerging syndromes due to neuroendocrine tumors.
abstract: Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare, slow-growing neoplasms characterized by their ability to store and secrete different peptides and neuroamines. Some of these substances cause specific clinical syndromes whereas others are not associated with specific syndromes or symptom complexes. NETs usually have episodic expression that makes diagnosis difficult, erroneous, and often late. For these reasons a high index of suspicion is needed, and it is important to understand the pathophysiology of each tumor to decide which biochemical markers are more useful and when they should be used.
authors.affiliation: Eastern Virginia Medical School, Strelitz Diabetes Center, 855 West Brambleton Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23510, USA. vinikai@evms.edu
authors.forename: Aaron I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Vinik
authors.forename: Michael Raymund C
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Gonzales
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor