Thymic carcinomas and thymic neuroendocrine tumors: a tribute to Dr. Juan Rosai.

Throughout his career, Dr. Juan Rosai greatly impacted our understanding of mediastinal tumors, both as a scientist and as a teacher. This review highlights his manifold contributions in the field of thymic carcinomas and thymic neuroendocrine tumors from a historical perspective.

The Genesis of the Neuroendocrine Tumors Concept: From Oberndorfer to 2018.

The concept of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) began in the 1900s with Oberndorfer's description of carcinoid tumors, followed by specific cytotoxic agents and the identification of somatostatin. NETs diagnosis was confirmed by World Health Organization classification. Histopathology included immunohistochemistry with specific antibodies. Imaging was refined with molecular imaging. Somatostatin is the leading agent for controlling clinical symptoms related to hormone production. Increasing interest in these tumors, previously thought rare, led to increased incidence and prevalence. Between 1960 and 1970, the true NET-concept was established with development of radioimmunoassays for peptides and hormones, and imaging with computerized tomography.

Tumores neuroendocrinos pancreáticos. ¿Qué conocemos de su historia? / Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours. What do we know of their history?

Tomando como punto de partida la descripción de los islotes pancreáticos realizada por Paul Langerhans en 1869 se efectúa una revisión histórica de los diferentes protagonistas que, aproximadamente, a lo largo de este último siglo y medio han contribuido a la identificación de las principales hormonas que tienen su origen en el páncreas, de los métodos analíticos que permiten cuantificarlas, de las técnicas de imagen que informan sobre la localización de los tumores y de los diferentes tipos de neoplasias que se originan en esta glándula

Starting with Paul Langerhans, who first described pancreatic islets in 1869, this article reviews the various protagonists who, in the last century and a half, have contributed to the discovery of the main hormones originating in the pancreas, the analytical methods for their measurement, the imaging techniques for identifying tumoural location, and the various pancreatic neoplasms

[Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours. What do we know of their history?]. / Tumores neuroendocrinos pancreáticos. ¿Qué conocemos de su historia?

Starting with Paul Langerhans, who first described pancreatic islets in 1869, this article reviews the various protagonists who, in the last century and a half, have contributed to the discovery of the main hormones originating in the pancreas, the analytical methods for their measurement, the imaging techniques for identifying tumoural location, and the various pancreatic neoplasms.

A historical appreciation of bronchopulmonary neuroendocrine neoplasia: resolution of a carcinoid conundrum.

In the three-quarters of a century that have elapsed since the first description of a bronchial carcinoid, the field has progressed from serendipitous radiological or bronchoscopic diagnosis to computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and somatostatin receptor imaging identification. Similarly, pathologic techniques have advanced from a naïve assessment of neoplasia to a delineation of several tumor subtypes and an understanding of the neuroendocrine basis of the disease process. A key unresolved question is the identification of the genetic and environmental activators that are responsible for the initiation of pulmonary neuroendocrine cell proliferation and neoplastic transformation.

Nuclear medicine procedures in the diagnosis of NET: a historical perspective.

Novel diagnostic tools and therapies have emerged as a result of the continuous endeavors relating to neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Nuclear medicine plays a pivotal role in the imaging and treatment of NETs. Somatostatin receptor analogues and metaiodobenzylguanidine remain front-line single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) radiotracers in the imaging of NET; their utility has been augmented by the increasing availability of SPECT/CT. Positron emission tomography has been growing rapidly in the imaging of NETs, paralleled by great efforts toward the development of new tracers. Hybrid imaging will play an important role in the future of NETs.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs): historical overview and epidemiology.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms which take origin from the neuroendocrine cell system and are characterized by embryological, biological and histopathological differences. Traditionally considered as a rare and "niche" pathology, over the last decades they have gained significant attention from the scientific community, even because of their increasing incidence and prevalence probably imputable to the availability of more sensitive diagnostic tools and to the development of higher awareness among clinicians. This paper retraces the key events that led to the discovery, characterization and classification of NETs as well as to the development of adequate treatment strategies. Incidence and epidemiology are also addressed.

Insulinoma: a rare neuroendocrine pancreatic tumor.

Insulinomas are functional endocrine tumors originating from the pancreatic b-cells. In 1902 Nicholls described the first adenoma of pancreatic islets, while the first insulinoma was described in 1927 in Mayo Clinic, which was dissected two years later in 1929 in Toronto. The first enucleation of insulinoma took place in a St. Jouis hospital in 1931, and after four years, in 1935, Whipple described the classic diagnostic triad: symptoms of fasting hypoglycemia or fatigue, blood glucose levels under 50 mg/dl and disappearance of symptoms after glucose administration.

Siegfried Oberndorfer: a tribute to his work and life between Munich, Kiel, Geneva, and Istanbul.

In 1907 Siegfried Oberndorfer published his observations and interpretations on tumorlets ("Geschwulstchen") in the small intestine, which he called carcinoids ("karzinoide Tumoren"). This article pursues the questions why this discovery was so unique and what role it played in the later life of Siegfried Oberndorfer.

Revised classification of neuroendocrine tumors of the lung, pancreas and gut.

The general use of the term carcinoid for the classification of neuroendocrine tumors has become increasingly difficult during recent years. First, its definition and prognosis varies from site to site. Second, its traditional definition does not cover the whole morphological and biological spectrum of neuroendocrine tumors known today. We therefore propose new classifications of the neuroendocrine tumors of the lung, pancreas, stomach, duodenum, jejunum-ileum, appendix and colorectum. These classifications use a common framework and attempt to consider the morphological, functional and biological features of these tumors.