What is neuroendocrine cancer?

Neuroendocrine tumors are a rare type of cancer that starts in the neuroendocrine system - where the nervous and endocrine systems work together. Though slow-growing, these tumors can be difficult to diagnose and eventually become life-threatening.

If the tumor produces symptoms - such as flushing of the face, sweating and diarrhea - then they are usually called carcinoid tumors. These are neuroendocrine tumors that produce symptoms as a result of hormones they secrete into the blood stream.

What are the signs and symptoms of neuroendocrine cancer?

Because the neuroendocrine system is highly distributed, this type of cancer can create a variety of signs and symptoms. In many cases, these tumors secrete excessive amounts of different hormones, which cause a range of symptoms. Some of the tumors are distinctive and originate in a particular site in the body. Others are not as easy to classify because they may or may not have "neuroendocrine features."

--Excerpt from Thomas Jefferson University Hospital