Language
Country/Area
No result found
The hidden life of Cassino tumors: Why do so many people not know they have cancer?
Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a type of tumor derived from neuroendocrine cells, which are related to the endocrine system and are widely distributed throughout the body. These tumors most commonly occur in the intestines and are often referred to as bowel cancer, but can also occur in the pancreas, lungs, and elsewhere. Although there are many types of NETs, they are often treated as a group of tissues because the cells of this class of tumors share common characteristics, including similar histological appearance and specialized secretory granules.
"Although Cassino tumors can cause obvious symptoms in some cases, many patients are unaware that they have cancer because of the lack of specific symptoms."
The secretory activities and physiological functions of these cells allow many NETs to remain latent in the human body for a long time when the tumors are small and inconspicuous. Many patients are often already at an advanced stage when tumors are discovered during examinations. This makes NETs clinically challenging, especially for early diagnosis and timely treatment.
NET classification
According to the classification of the World Health Organization (WHO), NETs are mainly divided into three categories: benign tumors with indeterminate behavior, neuroendocrine tumors with low malignant behavior, and neuroendocrine cancers with highly malignant behavior. In the subsequent evaluation, the histological characteristics of these tumors, including cell size, lymphovascular invasion, number of divisions, and prostate-specific antigen, are taken into consideration.
"The grading system of NETs provides an effective way to evaluate their biological behavior and prognosis."
Symptoms of NET
The symptoms of NET depend on the location of the tumor and the hormones it secretes. For example, Cassino tumors among intestinal tumors are often asymptomatic and may even be discovered accidentally when the patient undergoes other surgeries. Many tumors often produce no noticeable symptoms, even when they have metastasized.
"Symptoms of Cassino tumors include flushing, diarrhea and even heart failure, but these symptoms are often ignored or misdiagnosed."
This makes many patients already in a more serious state when diagnosed, increasing the difficulty and cost of treatment. Therefore, regular check-ups are very necessary, especially for people with higher risk factors.
Diagnosis and Treatment
The diagnosis of NETs usually relies on endocrine hormone measurement, imaging examinations and histological evaluation. Abnormal hormone levels found during examination can often help doctors determine the type of tumor and its biological behavior.
"Imaging examinations, such as CT scans and MRI, are extremely helpful in determining the size and location of tumors and whether they have metastasized."
In terms of treatment, the treatment plan for NET usually depends on the specific location and stage of the tumor and the overall health of the patient. For tumors that are low-grade and asymptomatic, an observation strategy is sometimes appropriate; whereas for tumors that have progressed locally or have metastasized, symptomatic treatment is more preferred to reduce the patient's pain and discomfort.
Summary
With the advancement of diagnostic technology, early identification of NET and its removal technology are also gradually updated. The question then arises: In the future, how do we ensure that everyone has the timely and necessary testing to detect these hidden tumors early?
