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Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs)

A Neuroendocrine tumor - also called NETs - is a rare type of cancer. On average, 700 people per year are diagnosed with NETs. NETs arise from neuroendocrine cells. Neuroendocrine cells are spread throughout the body. The tumor can therefore arise anywhere in the body. Most NETs originate in the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas and lungs.

We distinguish between NETs (neuroendocrine tumours) and NEC (neuroendocrine carcinomas). Tumors designated by the term NETs are then classified into grades 1, 2, and 3. This grade says something about the growth rate, grade 1 generally divides more slowly than grade 3. NEC behave more aggressively than NETs and are also treated differently, which is why they are seen as a separate group.

On this page you can read more about the symptoms and the most commonly used examinations and forms of treatment for neuroendocrine tumours.

Visit our NET Centre and read more about the NET Centre as a recognised centre of expertise in the Netherlands, the specialists and patient satisfaction.

What are the different neuroendocrine tumors?

Wat zijn NET (neuro endocriene tumoren)?

What are NETs (neuroendocrine tumours)?

In this video from the NET-groep foundation, Jose van der Berg (pathologist) and Margot Tesselaar (internist), among others, talk about neuroendocrine tumors, how they are diagnosed and what the treatment options are.

Symptoms of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs)

The symptoms of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are diverse. If you have a gut NET, you may experience:

  • abdominal cramps;
  • nausea;
  • diarrhoea.

In the case of a lung NET:

  • cough;
  • fever.

You may also experience the substances that secrete the NETs, especially in the case of metastases in the liver. This can cause hot flashes, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or vomiting, especially after drinking red wine. In general, you may feel tired and have little appetite.

Diagnosis

By means of a piece of tissue (biopsy), the pathologist can determine which type of NETs are involved. In addition, scans and other tests are used to see if there are metastases and where all the tumor is in the body. To diagnose Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs), the following tests are performed:

Bloedbuisjes

Blood tests

Tumor markers
CT Scan handen

CT scan
Nucleaire geneeskunde pet

PET/CT scan
PET/CT-scan Dotataat

PET/CT scan Dotatate
Vanuit Verschillende Richtingen Opnames

MIBG scan

Treatment options

Exactly which treatment you will receive depends on the following factors:

  • Your fitness
  • The growth rate of the tumor and metastases
  • The site where the NETs originated (primary tumour)
  • The size (extent) of the tumors
  • The size, location and amount of metastases
  • Whether the tumor produces hormones
  • The type of hormone that the NETs produce.
Behandeling NET

Treatment for NETs

In this video from the NET group foundation, Margot Tesselaar (internist) talks about the various treatment options.

Treatment options

You will hear exactly what is going to happen in advance and there is plenty of time to ask your questions. Your treatment will consist of one or more of the following treatments:

Chemotherapy

Radiofrequency and Microwave Ablation (RFA)

Surgery

Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT)

Tumor embolization

Expertise

It is very important to see a specialist who has a lot of experience with NETs and who treats many patients with NETs, because NETs are rare. For this reason, there are a number of recognised centres of expertise for NETs in the Netherlands, including the Netherlands Cancer Institute.

NET team

NET Centre

Read more about our NET center, our specialists, patient satisfaction, innovation and news on this page.
NET-Centre
Zebra41 Stichting Net
Watch films from the NET Foundation in which specialists explain research, diagnostics, epidemiology in NETs, symptoms, research, diagnosis, treatment options and more.
Watch movies about NETs

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