title: Neuroendocrine tumors of the kidney: a single institution experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Renal NETs, comprised of carcinoid tumors and small cell carcinomas, are a rare group of neoplasms. The rarity of these tumors pose a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Our purpose was to characterize the cases treated at a tertiary cancer center and to evaluate patient outcomes with the available treatment modalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective study of patients with renal NETs seen at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center between January 1, 2001, and January 1, 2011. Patient and tumor data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three cases of carcinoid tumors and 6 cases of small cell carcinoma were identified. The median age at diagnosis was 53 years for patients with carcinoid and 65 years for patients with small cell carcinoma. The most common presenting symptoms were back pain, flank pain, and hematuria. The morphological appearance of the tumor cells and their immunohistochemical reactivity for neuroendocrine markers and cytokeratin helped establish the diagnosis. Nephrectomy was the mainstay of treatment for carcinoid tumors, yielding good long-term results, even in the presence of metastases. Surgery and chemotherapy were used for small cell carcinoma of the kidney. The median overall survival for patients with small cell carcinoma of the kidney was 17.3 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Renal carcinoid tumors are indolent and are associated with prolonged survival, and small cell carcinomas of the kidney are aggressive tumors with relatively short overall survival. Although palliative in nature, cytotoxic chemotherapy is the mainstay of therapy and is best given before surgery.
authors.affiliation: Lymphoma Department, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Purnima Sravanti
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Teegavarapu
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matrana
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Clinical Programs, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Diana H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Cauley
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: Genitourinary Medical Oncology Department, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX. Electronic address: ntannir@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: Nizar M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Tannir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: Carcinoid tumors; Chemotherapy; Cytoreductive nephrectomy; Kidney tumors; Small-cell carcinomas
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