Epidemiologia dei tumori (neuro)endocrini non-gastroenteropancreatici

The widespread availability and reliability of immunohistochemical techniques in the last three decades has allowed researchers to identify cells with common neuroendocrine markers in virtually every organ. As a whole, these neuroendocrine cells form the so called diffuse neuroendocrine system. Tumours arising from the cells of the diffuse neuroendocrine system are defined (neuro)endocrine tumours (NET). NET have been increasingly described in the last years. However, despite the progression in the amount of published papers focused on NET, we still lack the availability of adequate epidemiological data, particularly for non-gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) NET. Furthermore, the real incidence of neuroendocrine differentiation for most sites is not completely known and is probably underestimated. As a consequence, data on the clinical features of many NET subgroups are not well known or confusing. This study describes the clinico-epidemiological profile of NET originating from lung, thymus, larynx, genital tract and skin.