Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Renal System
Summary
Neuroendocrine tumours of the renal system constitute a rare and heterogeneous group of neoplasms arising from neuroendocrine cells within the kidney parenchyma. These lesions range from well-differentiated carcinoid tumours to high-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas and often present incidentally on imaging or with nonspecific symptoms such as abdominal discomfort or haematuria. Histologically, they characteristically express neuroendocrine markers including chromogranin A and synaptophysin. Prognosis varies widely according to tumour grade, stage at diagnosis and proliferative indices. Surgical resection remains the mainstay of curative treatment for localized disease, while advanced cases may require systemic therapies borrowed from protocols used in gastro-enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours. Despite decades of sporadic case reports and small series, large-scale epidemiological data and consensus guidelines remain limited, underscoring the need for collaborative registries and standardised pathological assessment.
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Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Renal System publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in neuroendocrine tumors of the renal system across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Neuroendocrine tumour (NET): A neoplasm deriving from cells that possess both neuronal and endocrine features, capable of secreting peptide hormones.
Carcinoid tumour: A well-differentiated, low-grade form of neuroendocrine tumour often demonstrating indolent behaviour.
Ki-67 index: The proportion of tumour cell nuclei staining positive for the Ki-67 protein, reflecting proliferative activity.
Mitotic count: The number of cells undergoing mitosis per defined microscopic field, used as a marker of tumour aggressiveness.
Immunohistochemistry: A laboratory technique using labelled antibodies to detect specific antigens in tissue sections, aiding in tumour classification.
References
- Natural History of Renal Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: A NET by Any Other Name?. Frontiers in Endocrinology (2021).
- Primary renal well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors: report of six cases with an emphasis on the Ki-67 index and mitosis. Diagnostic Pathology (2019).
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