Neuroendocrine tumors: An epidemiological study of 250 cases at a tertiary hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the frequency of neuroendocrine tumors in our service with that reported in the literature considering age, gender, location, degree of differentiation and increase in incidence by means of a retrospective study. METHOD: Search of variables from a database of neuroendocrine tumor cases diagnosed at the Department of Pathological Sciences, Hospital da Santa Casa de São Paulo over the past 10 years, relating them to epidemiological data such as gender, age, distribution across organs, most-used immunohistochemical markers and presence or absence of either lymph node or distant metastases. RESULTS: In all, 250 cases were reviewed, 133 involving females, predominantly in the 61-70 age range. The lung was the most frequent site, followed by the stomach. CD56, synaptophysin and chromogranin were the immunohistochemical markers used most often and to a lesser extent Ki67, a marker of cell proliferation that indicates a higher or lower degree of histological malignancy. Metastases, either in lymph nodes and/or distant sites, were found in 44 cases (17.6%). CONCLUSION: The results were largely consistent with those in the literature, including age group, gender and location. Most metastases originated from high-grade tumors, with high Ki67 levels and greater impairment of the liver. However, only 36.4% of the cases had Ki67 index. Reevaluation of the Ki67 proliferative index using image analysis in doubtful cases will allow for a correlation between progression and prognosis.

Neuroendocrine tumors: An epidemiological study of 250 cases at a tertiary hospital / Tumores neuroendócrinos: estudo epidemiológico de 250 casos em um hospital terciário

Summary Objective: To compare the frequency of neuroendocrine tumors in our service with that reported in the literature considering age, gender, location, degree of differentiation and increase in incidence by means of a retrospective study. Method: Search of variables from a database of neuroendocrine tumor cases diagnosed at the Department of Pathological Sciences, Hospital da Santa Casa de São Paulo over the past 10 years, relating them to epidemiological data such as gender, age, distribution across organs, most-used immunohistochemical markers and presence or absence of either lymph node or distant metastases. Results: In all, 250 cases were reviewed, 133 involving females, predominantly in the 61-70 age range. The lung was the most frequent site, followed by the stomach. CD56, synaptophysin and chromogranin were the immunohistochemical markers used most often and to a lesser extent Ki67, a marker of cell proliferation that indicates a higher or lower degree of histological malignancy. Metastases, either in lymph nodes and/or distant sites, were found in 44 cases (17.6%). Conclusion: The results were largely consistent with those in the literature, including age group, gender and location. Most metastases originated from high-grade tumors, with high Ki67 levels and greater impairment of the liver. However, only 36.4% of the cases had Ki67 index. Reevaluation of the Ki67 proliferative index using image analysis in doubtful cases will allow for a correlation between progression and prognosis.

Resumo Objetivo: Comparar a frequência de tumores neuroendócrinos em nosso serviço com a literatura em relação idade, sexo, localização, grau de diferenciação e aumento da incidência por meio de um estudo retrospectivo. Método: Levantamento em banco de dados de casos de tumores neuroendócrinos diagnosticados no Serviço de Anatomia Patológica do Hospital da Santa Casa de São Paulo nos últimos 10 anos, relacionando com os dados epidemiológicos, como sexo, idade, distribuição pelos diversos órgãos, marcadores imuno-histoquímicos mais utilizados e presença ou não de metástase em linfonodos ou a distância. Resultados: Foram revistos 250 casos, 133 femininos, com faixa etária predominante entre 61 e 70 anos. O pulmão foi o local com maior frequência, seguido do estômago. Os marcadores imuno-histoquímicos mais utilizados foram CD56, sinaptofisina e cromogranina, às vezes complementados pelo Ki67, que permite avaliar o grau de proliferação celular, indicativo de maior ou menor grau de malignidade histológica. Metástases em linfonodos e/ou a distância foram constatadas em 44 casos (17,6%). Conclusão: Os resultados foram em grande parte concordantes com os dados da literatura, como idade, sexo e localização. A maioria das metástases se originou de neoplasias de alto grau, com alto índice do Ki67, com maior comprometimento do fígado. No entanto, o índice proliferativo do Ki67 foi feito em apenas 36,4% dos casos. A reavaliação dos índices proliferativos do Ki67 por meio de análise de imagem, de casos duvidosos, permitirão relacionar com a evolução e o prognóstico dos pacientes.