Multiple Intestinal Neuroendocrine Tumour Presented as a Large Mesenteric Mass: Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Most Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are of digestive origin (70%), they can involve from any organ of the digestive system. The small intestine and rectum are the most common locations, (small intestine 30%, colorectal 30%, appendix 20%, pancreas 10%, stomach 5%). The clinical presentation may be secondary to the secretion of biologically active peptides or related to the tumour syndrome (pain, and palpable mass). Chromogranin A or synaptophysin are useful markers for the diagnosis and follow-up of NEN. The radiological diagnosis of intestinal neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN) has been greatly improved by the advent of new isotope imaging techniques.  The fact that this tumour is rare and that its symptomatology is varied is a cause of many errors in its diagnosis resulting in therapeutic delay. Curative surgery remains the "gold standard" for the management of small bowel NETs. We report the case of an intestinal neuroendocrine tumour presented as a large mesenteric mass and discuss its epidemiological, clinical, biochemical, histological and therapeutic features in the light of the literature.