Management of Small Bowel Neuroendocrine Tumors

Small bowel neuroendocrine tumors (SBNETS) are slow-growing neoplasms with a noted propensity toward metastasis and comparatively favorable prognosis. The presentation of SBNETs is varied, although abdominal pain and obstructive symptoms are the most common presenting symptoms. In patients with metastases, hypersecretion of serotonin and other bioactive amines results in diarrhea, flushing, valvular heart disease, and bronchospasm, termed carcinoid syndrome. The treatment of SBNETs is multimodal and includes surgery, liver-directed therapy, somatostatin analogues, targeted therapy, and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy.