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Pathology of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: Morphological, Immunophenotypical, and Circulating Molecular Markers

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Atlas of Thyroid and Neuroendocrine Tumor Markers

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Abstract

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are a heterogeneous group of epithelial neoplastic proliferations arising in a large number of body organs, although most cases arise in the bronchopulmonary and gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) systems. Irrespective of their primary site, neoplastic cells share features of neural and endocrine differentiation and neoplasms encompass a wide spectrum of entities, from very indolent well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) to highly aggressive neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs). They represent a challenge for oncologists and pathologists and a correct diagnostic approach is crucial for the management of patients. Indeed, although the diagnosis of GEP and lung NENs is generally simple in routine practice, there are critical aspects that need to be taken into account during the diagnostic workup. The most challenging tasks include the difficulty in achieving the correct prognostic evaluation of NETs by recognizing their metastatic/aggressive potential and the identification of NECs. To this aim, a comprehensive clinical, morphological, immunohistochemical, and molecular investigation represents the most reliable tool for pathologists. The present chapter examines current approaches to the diagnosis and prognostic classification of GEP and lung NENs, focusing on the classification and the critical use of morphological parameters, immunohistochemical stainings, and molecular markers in the pathology workup.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Service of Clinical Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Lausanne University Hospital, 25 rue du Bugnon, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Stefano La Rosa & Massimo Bongiovanni

  2. Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy

    Silvia Uccella

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  1. Stefano La Rosa
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Correspondence to Stefano La Rosa .

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  1. Nuclear Medicine and Thyroid Centre, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Bellinzona, Switzerland

    Luca Giovanella

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La Rosa, S., Bongiovanni, M., Uccella, S. (2018). Pathology of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: Morphological, Immunophenotypical, and Circulating Molecular Markers. In: Giovanella, L. (eds) Atlas of Thyroid and Neuroendocrine Tumor Markers. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62506-5_2

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