Neuroendocrine tumors: methods of treatment
Neuroendocrine tumors, they are carcinoids and neuroendocrine carcinomas, occur when the function of apudocide cells is impaired. They can manifest as an independent disease, or be the result of endocrine neoplasia. The bronchopulmonary tract, gastrointestinal tract organs, the thyroid gland are the first in terms of lesions associated with apudocytes.
Over the past three decades, there has been an increase in the emergence of neuroendocrine tumors, but the development of medicine allows them to be diagnosed in the early stages, which simplifies treatment. Pheochromocytoma, pituitary tumors, tumors of the mammary glands, prostate, thymus, ovaries also belong to carcinoids.
Slow growth and the practical absence of pronounced symptoms are a feature of this type of disease. Hypersecretion is not always immediately noted by the body, but it helps to establish the exact cause. Hypertension, panic attacks and headaches also act as markers, so it is advisable to consult a doctor if, until recently, there was no predisposition to this. There are a great many symptoms, so the diagnosis and therapy of various types of carcinoids is very individual.
Methods for the diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors
Causes of carcinoma is not always possible to establish. Carcinoid syndrome occurs due to increased secretion of serotonin, sometimes it spreads beyond the body, sometimes, if the tumor develops in the appendix, no.
According to the results of the initial consultation, the following examinations are necessarily appointed:
- Research on tumor markers (the main one is chromatographin A, some common ones, according to indications, are prolactin, etc.);
- Blood and urine tests for hormones (serotonin and its metabolites);
- Ultrasound, possible endoscopy (mandatory for the rectum and other organs of the gastrointestinal tract);
- Computed tomography, sometimes MRI;
- Radiography;
- Biopsy of the affected organ (according to indications - immunohistology);
- Stress tests (for pancreatic carcinomas).
According to the results of diagnostics, surgery or conservative treatment is prescribed. In general, the survival rate after neuroendocrine tumors has a good positive statistics, if the treatment takes place in specialized medical centers, where high-precision equipment and highly professional staff are present, for example, in Israel or Germany.
The most productive methods of treatment
It should immediately be pointed out that chemotherapy is considered to have little effect, since malignant formations of apudocides are resistant to this method. At the moment, surgical intervention is considered the most productive, while there is parallel radiotherapy and hormone therapy. Metastases are also removed.
The following therapies are practiced:
- Beam therapy;
- Biological therapy - restoration of the immune system, alpha-interferons, somatostatin analogues, their combinations are used;
- Radiotherapy - in case of tumor inoperability, the presence of metastases;
- Brachytherapy as a radiotherapy subspecies.
With the development of a more accurate diagnosis, physicians are trying to use minimally invasive methods for removing tumors.
Treatment of neuroendocrine tumors in Israel
In addition to the standard diagnostic package, Israeli clinics offer PET CT with radioactive helium isotopes and DOTA peptides. The result of the study has an accuracy of 100%.
In the treatment of cancer in Israel, targeted therapy, including radionuclide, is widely practiced. The tumor site is exposed to radionuclides associated with the growth hormone analogue. This species affects only diseased cells.
Radiofrequency ablation is also a popular effective way of post-operative recovery.
Israeli doctors prefer minimally invasive surgery, so if there is a possibility of laparoscopic intervention, they will choose it. Thanks to well-established methods, recovery after removal of neuroendocrine tumors occurs quickly, there are all conditions in the clinics.
The most established clinics of Israel, which have extensive experience in the conservative treatment of carcinomas:
- Herzliya Medical Center;
- Medical Center them. Sourasky (Tel Aviv);
- LIV Hospital.
This is not a complete list; in this case, multi-profile establishments are indicated. You can also recommend a university clinic in Aachen, Germany. They have been involved in the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors for more than 20 years.
Early diagnosis and the rapid start of treatment of endocrine tumors in most cases will not only save the patient’s life, but also return him to normal life.
