Types of neuroendocrine cancer
Pancreatic neuroendocrine cancers develops in in the . You might also hear them called pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs). This means the same as neuroendocrine cancer.
There are 2 key groups of pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer:
pancreatic )
pancreatic )
NETs and NECs are very different. So it is important to know which one you have. Talk to your doctor or specialist nurse if you are not sure.
Doctors group pancreatic NETs as either functioning NETs or non functioning NETs. This depends on whether the NET makes and releases abnormal levels of . The main types of functioning pancreatic NETs are insulinoma, gastrinoma, somatostatinoma, glucagonoma and VIPoma.
Pancreatic neuroendocrine cancers are rare and need different treatment to the more common type of pancreatic cancer.
We have information about pancreatic cancer here
Pancreatic neuroendocrine cancers are rare cancers that start in the neuroendocrine cells of the pancreas. There are many different types.
Grade means how quickly or slowly the cancer cells are dividing and growing. The stage of a neuroendocrine cancer tells you its size and whether it has spread. There are many different types.
Non functioning pancreatic NETs are the most common type of pancreatic NET. Non functioning means they don’t over produce hormones, or cause a set of symptoms (syndrome).
Insulinomas are rare neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) that start in the pancreas. They make the hormone insulin which controls the amount of sugar (glucose) in your body.
Gastrinomas are rare neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) that develop in the pancreas or duodenum. They make large amounts of the hormone gastrin.
Glucagonomas are very rare NETs that develop in the pancreas. Glucagonomas usually make large amounts of glucagon which raises your blood sugar levels.
VIPomas are rare pancreatic NETs that start in the cells that make the hormone VIP. VIP relaxes your stomach and bowel muscles and affects sugar, salt and water levels in your gut.
Somatostatinomas are rare neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). They develop in the pancreas and the duodenum. Most somatostatinomas make large amounts of the hormone somatostatin.
Last reviewed: 05 Mar 2025
Next review due: 05 Mar 2028
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