Divisions of Pathology, University of Turin at San Luigi Hospital, Orbassano, Torino, Italy.
Virchows Arch. 2011 Apr;458(4):393-402. doi: 10.1007/s00428-011-1060-7. Epub 2011 Feb 23.
Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) develop in many organs, and although they share some pathological and clinical features, significant differences do exist among different tumor types and locations. The correct classification of NENs is based on the recently published WHO classification according to the various locations, and is relevant for the appropriate treatment in each group. The apparently easy diagnostic categorization in well-differentiated NENs, called neuroendocrine tumors, and poorly differentiated NENs, called neuroendocrine carcinomas, is complicated by the existence, among others, of different terminologies, morphological criteria of malignancy, combined exocrine-endocrine tumors, as well as of heterogeneous diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive markers. The present paper is an overview of the most frequently asked questions and an attempt to provide practical answers related to NEN diagnosis in the daily pathology work.
神经内分泌肿瘤（NEN）可发生于多个器官，虽然它们具有一些共同的病理和临床特征，但不同肿瘤类型和部位之间仍存在显著差异。NEN 的正确分类基于最近发布的 WHO 分类，根据不同部位进行分类，这对于每组患者的适当治疗非常重要。在分化良好的 NEN（称为神经内分泌肿瘤）和分化差的 NEN（称为神经内分泌癌）中，诊断分类似乎很简单，但由于存在其他因素，例如不同的术语、恶性的形态学标准、外分泌-内分泌混合肿瘤以及异质的诊断、预后和预测标志物，使诊断变得复杂。本文概述了最常被问到的问题，并尝试提供与日常病理工作中 NEN 诊断相关的实用答案。
