Neuroendocrine tumor treatment with tumor removal surgery

Tumor removal surgery is the most widely used method of neuroendocrine tumor treatment, especially for patients without additional metastatic lesions. To ensure that the patient is applicable for surgery, oncologists need to conduct a general health check-up, evaluate the coagulation (a process of forming the blood clot), and prescribe medical imaging examination (CT, MRI, ultrasound) to plan future treatment. Surgical techniques and approaches might vary depending on the tumor’s features, localizations, and other factors. For example, small-sized tumors might often be successfully treated with endoscopic surgery. In contrast, tumors over 20 mm mainly require open surgery. Before starting the treatment, the patient needs to be prepared. The process includes a specific diet, taking medications, and consultations with surgeons, oncologists, and anesthesiologists. Most often, the patient will receive general anesthesia before the surgery. Next, surgeons made an incision on the patient’s body, removing the tumor and any involved tissues, including lymphatic nodes and possible metastatic lesions. Ultimately, they made stitches and placed an aseptic dressing on top. After the surgery, tumors and removed tissues are sent for additional microscopic examination to obtain details about neuroendocrine tumor cells. That helps to select further treatment based on the individual tumor features.