SPECT/CT in Neuroendrocrine Tumours

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are a very heterogenous group of neoplasms, defined as epithelial neoplasms with predominant neuroendocrine differentiation. Neuroendocrine cells are present in endocrine glands, but also diffuse distributed in all body tissues. These cells have the ability to produce various peptide hormones and bioactive amines [1, 2]. The products are stored in characteristic small membrane-bound granules (synaptic vesicles) inside the cells [2]. NENs can produce a great variety of clinical symptoms due to hormone hypersecretion, in addition to the typical carcinoid manifestation with diarrhoea and flush caused by serotonin hypersecretion.