title: Primary intracranial neuroendocrine tumor: two case reports.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neuroendocrine tumor originates from the diffuse neuroendocrine system. Intracranial originating is lower to 0.74 %.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present two cases of primary intracranial neuroendocrine tumor A 39-year-old woman was admitted with headache, fever, polydipsia and polyuria. Biochemical and endocrinological results showed hyponatremia, hypothyroidism and hypopituitarism. MRI scans demonstrated an obviouslyenhancing lesion in seller and superseller area. Then a gross removal of tumor was achieved during the single nostril transsphenoidal approach surgery. Pathological diagnosis was high-grade small-cell neuroendocrine tumor. A 40-year-old woman presented with multiple symptoms and neurological deficit. Neuroimaging results demonstrated a huge obviously-enhancing tumor in anterior cranial fossa. Biochemical and hormone findings revealed hypokalemia, high glucose and hypercortisolemia. The intracranial surgery achieved a gross removal through a right frontal craniotomy. Pathological diagnosis was low-grade small-cell neuroendocrine tumor with immuno-negativity for ACTH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mechanism, diagnosis, and treatment of neuroendocrine tumor are still challenging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sanbo Brain Hospital Capital Medical University, No. 50 Xiang Shan Yi-Ke-Song, Haidian District, Beijing, 100093, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hailong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sanbo Brain Hospital Capital Medical University, No. 50 Xiang Shan Yi-Ke-Song, Haidian District, Beijing, 100093, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Haoran
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sanbo Brain Hospital Capital Medical University, No. 50 Xiang Shan Yi-Ke-Song, Haidian District, Beijing, 100093, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xueling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sanbo Brain Hospital Capital Medical University, No. 50 Xiang Shan Yi-Ke-Song, Haidian District, Beijing, 100093, People's Republic of China. liuhailonger@163.com.
authors.forename: Chunjiang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis
keywords: Anterior skull base reconstruction; Diagnosis; Ectopic ACTH syndrome; Neuroendocrine tumor; Treatment