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Updated: Jun 11, 2026
Establishment and Characterization of Small Bowel Neuroendocrine Tumor Spheroids
Published on: October 14, 2019
Small Bowel Neuroendocrine Neoplasms
Antonino Andrea Blandino1, Luigi Asmundo2, Elio Quiros3
1Abdominal Radiology and Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA; Section of Radiology - Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University Hospital "Paolo Giaccone", Palermo 90127, Italy.
Abstract:
Small bowel neuroendocrine neoplasms (SB-NENs) are a distinct subgroup of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs), characterized by marked biological heterogeneity and a high prevalence of metastatic disease at diagnosis. Their frequently nonspecific clinical presentation, together with small and often multifocal primary lesions, poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This review provides a comprehensive overview of SB-NENs, focusing on recent epidemiological trends, key elements of the 2022 World Health Organization (WHO) classification and of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Staging System, and the central role of imaging in clinical management. Emphasis is placed on the complementary value of anatomical and molecular imaging modalities for tumor detection, staging, treatment planning, and response assessment. The key radiologist's contribution to surgical planning is discussed, along with imaging strategies for follow-up and evaluation of treatment response.
