Journal - Archives of surgery (Chicago, Ill. : 1960) (UNITED STATES )

Journal - The American surgeon (UNITED STATES )

Journal - Gastroenterology (UNITED STATES )

Journal - Archives of surgery (Chicago, Ill. : 1960) (UNITED STATES )

Abstract :

OBJECTIVE: To review our experiences in order to high-light some important lessons learned in the treatment of patients with neuroendocrine gut neoplasms. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of case series of 70 patients with neuroendocrine gut neoplasms treated between 1983 and 1993. The clinical features of individual patients illustrate lessons in surgical treatment. SETTING: University hospitals with tertiary care referral practice. INTERVENTIONS: The main intervention was abdominal exploration in 43 patients, with resection of the primary tumor in 39 and of hepatic metastases in four. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: To describe the tumors seen and to identify major lessons learned. RESULTS: Of 70 patients with neuroendocrine tumors treated, 31 had carcinoid tumors, 10 each had insulinomas and gastrinomas, five had vipomas, nine had non-functioning islet cell tumors, three had glucagonomas, and one each had somatostatinoma and a possible cholecystokinin-secreting tumor (or CCKoma). Important lessons learned include: (1) the importance of preoperative tumor localization; (2) in multiple endocrine neoplasia, type I syndrome, the tumor found may not be the one responsible for the patient's symptoms; (3) solitary sporadic tumors secreting multiple peptides may mimic multiple tumors in multiple endocrine neoplasia, type I syndrome; (4) one needs to be prepared for the unexpected, such as the carcinoid crisis; (5) resection may sometimes be necessary even with advanced local disease; and (6) selected patients may benefit from pancreaticoduodenectomy. CONCLUSIONS: These rare tumors are interesting in their clinical presentation and can be challenging in their treatment.

Journal - Digestion (SWITZERLAND )

Abstract :

The purpose of the workshop was to critically evaluate the use of octreotide in the management of important surgical and gastroenterological conditions. The topics covered included: (1) management of functioning gut neuroendocrine tumors, (2) new approaches to localize these tumors, (3) the place of octreotide in the treatment of variceal bleedings, and (4) the use of octreotide in postoperative conditions. Octreotide therapy has been shown to be effective in the carcinoid syndrome, in which symptom control is achieved in 85% of patients, and reduction in 5-HIAA in 60%. Although tumor regression is rarely seen, prolongation of survival probably occurs. Control of diarrhea has been achieved in 84% of patients with VIPoma treated with octreotide. Similarly, octreotide has been found to provide effective control of the necrolytic, migratory dermatitis seen in glucagonoma. By contrast, insulinomas are more resistant to somatostatin agonist therapy. In the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, octreotide is effective in alleviating symptoms and in reducing serum gastrin levels. However, its use in this syndrome has been superceded by omeprazole. Radioiodine-labelled octreotide has been very effective in in vivo imaging of neuroendocrine tumors in the abdomen, and is now considered the best available technique for localizing these tumors preoperatively. Intraoperative localization with a hand-held gamma camera is being developed. There is an exciting future possibility to use the technique to deliver therapy to tumors. Octreotide therapy has been shown to be at least as effective as and without the adverse hemodynamic effects of Pitressin in control of variceal hemorrhage. It should be regarded as one of several modalities of therapy in the condition.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Journal - Investigative radiology (UNITED STATES )

Journal - American journal of surgery (UNITED STATES )

Abstract :

The enteric nervous system (ENS) can be thought of as the third component of the autonomic nervous system. It is a vast network of neurons widely dispersed throughout the gut. The ENS is a dominant regulator of gut function through the action of peptide and non-peptide neurotransmitters. The most intensively studied roles of the ENS have been the regulation of secretory processes, such as gastric acid secretion, and motility. It is clear, however, that the ENS plays a broader role in the regulation of other gut functions, including mucosal defense, the gut immune response, and sphincter function. Alterations in the regulation of gut function by the ENS are likely or suspected in a number of conditions, including achalasia, Hirschsprung's disease, inflammatory bowel disease, Chagas' disease, chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction, biliary dyskinesia, tachygastria, and irritable bowel syndrome. Improved knowledge of the pathophysiology of these troublesome conditions makes effective therapy more likely in the future.

Journal - Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons (UNITED STATES )