Primary versus secondary nature of mesenteric neuroendocrine tumours

Abstract

Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are rare group of malignancy that originate from neuroendocrine cells present throughout the body. Most patients with NET first present with symptoms associated with metastasis, and up to 20% of patients have unknown primary site of tumour. Most common metastatic sites for small intestine NETs (SI-NETs) are the locoregional lymph nodes and liver. Although mesenteric metastasis through direct extension or lymphatic spread from SI-NETs is common, mesenteric extranodal involvement is extremely rare, and its biology and primary versus secondary nature are not well understood. Due to their small size and location, SI-NETs are frequently undetected on anatomical imaging or indium-111-pentetreotide single-photon emission computed tomography/CT (Octreoscan) and are difficult to be found via endoscopy. Gallium-68-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid-octreotate positron emission tomography (⁶⁸Ga-DOTATATE PET)/CT has been increasingly used for accurate staging, unknown primary tumour site localisation and appropriate management planning. We present a case of an incidentally found mesenteric NET with occult SI-NETs localised preoperatively by ⁶⁸Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT.

Keywords: endocrine cancer; gastrointestinal surgery; general surgery; surgery; surgical oncology.