ABSTRACT
According to the definition by the National Cancer Institute, neuroendocrine tumors (NET) arise from cells that release hormones into the blood stream in response to signals originating from the nervous system. NETs are a very heterogeneous group of tumors, and in this group of neoplasms, there are carcinoid tumors, gastroenteropancreatic NETs, NETs of the skin, small-cell lung tumors, large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, and pituitary tumors. Peritoneal surface malignancy (PSM) of NET origin is known to extend from primary NETs of the digestive tract or pancreas. In small series of patients undergoing surgical treatment of well-differentiated digestive endocrine carcinomas, the prevalence of peritoneal carcinomatosis has been reported in the range of 10%–33%. There are no specific symptoms related to PSM of NET origin, for they are similar to other types of tumors involving the peritoneal surface. Sometimes, the clinical picture is dominated by symptoms of the primary tumor.
