Classification of gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors [Klassifikation gastroenteropankreatischer neuroendokriner tumoren]

Tumors of the disseminated/diffuse neuroendocrine system (NET) are characterized by a common phenotype. However, the biology varies according to histomorphology, endocrine symptoms and organ of origin. The WHO classification takes these differences into account and uses a common framework, where the parameters size and extent of invasion vary according to the organ of origin. In order to achieve a further standardization of reporting the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS) recently proposed a tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging and grading system for gastro-entero-pancreatic NET. © 2009 Springer Medizin Verlag.