History of Neuroendocrine Neoplasia

Neuroendocrine tumors are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms with peculiar clinical and biological characteristics that differentiate them from others tumor histotypes. They have a very long history as the first evidence of the existence of clinical conditions, with symptoms and signs that were subsequently identified as neuroendocrine tumors, date back to ancient Egypt. The first writings on these neoplasms can be found in the Ebers papyrus. Since then, surgeons, pathologists, endocrinologists, gastroenterologists, and oncologists have become passionate about these conditions characterized by such variability of symptoms and signs as to make them unique among tumors. They can originate from any organ or apparatus of the body, and over the years, several attempts have been made to provide a histopathological classification. Despite being rare tumors, they have been the subject of many investigations, as demonstrated in their long medical history.