Neuroendocrine tumors (NET) are intrinsically hard to diagnose, and this can cause significant delays to proper treatment. Nevertheless, appropriate surgical and medical management options do exist and can, in many cases, vastly increase survival time and improve quality of life for patients. Physicians who treat patients with NET must remain up to date in the diagnosis, imaging and management (both surgical and medical) of these neoplasias.

Overview

This program discusses the diagnosis and the management of NET and highlights newer medical therapies that are being added to the armamentarium. Major symptomatology, laboratory tests and biomarkers, and imaging options are reviewed, including the use of radiolabeled congeners of natural ligands. The surgical options are overviewed and the two major biotherapies are featured. The impact of hormonal symptoms' control on the quality of life of patients suffering from indolent tumors is analyzed.

Audience

This program has been specifically developed to update and educate gastroenterologists and primary care physicians who provide care for people with NET

Learning objectives

 Discuss the challenges posed by the early diagnosis of NET and the advantages for the patient when a timely diagnosis is achieved

 Describe the major biomarkers/laboratory tests that are the most useful for the diagnosis of NET

 Identify the surgical options available for NET management

 Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the biotherapies currently available for medical management of NET

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The discussion is moderated by
Dr Holly Atkinson

Faculty

Lowell Anthony MD
(Program Chair)
Associate Professor of Medicine
Louisiana State University
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Thomas O'Dorisio MD
Professor of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology
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Richard Warner MD
Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Read biography

Faculty disclosure information

CME credit
The American Gastroenterological Association offers users in the United States continuing medical education (CME) credit for participating in this learning module.
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Accreditation statement

What is carcinoid syndrome?

What are the current radiolabeled somatostatin congeners and what's on the horizon?

Faculty disclosure information

In accordance with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education Standards for Commercial Support, faculty members for this activity were each asked to complete financial disclosure forms. Disclosures are provided below.

Lowell Anthony MD
Speakers' Bureau: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Research support: Mallinckrodt, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation

Thomas O'Dorisio MD
Lectures/Talks: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Grant Support: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Mallinckrodt
Speakers' Bureau: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation

Richard Warner MD
Speakers' Bureau: Member of National Panel of Lecturers of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation

Accreditation statement

The views expressed herein, while consistent with current medical literature, are solely those of the faculty.

The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians.

The AGA designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 credit hours in Category 1 credit toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.

All presenters participating in continuing medical education programs sponsored by the AGA are expected to disclose to the program audience any real or apparent conflict(s) of interest related to the content of their presentation. In addition, presenters and moderators are asked to make a reasonable effort to identify for the program audience any discussion of off-label or investigative use or application of a product or device that may occur during the educational presentation.

Funding for the development and production of the Neuroendocrine Tumors: Timely Diagnosis and Optimal Intervention multimedia module was provided through an unrestricted educational grant from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.