Gastroduodenal neuroendocrine tumors are rare but an increase in incidence has been recognized worldwide over the past 35 years. At the same time the prognosis of patients has substantially improved because the majority of these tumors can now be detected at an early stage. Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) of the stomach are the most frequent neoplasms of neuroendocrine origin in the gastrointestinal tract. The therapeutic management of these tumors is complicated by the fact that they must be classified not only by staging and grading but also according to their pathophysiological background (types). These types differ in biological behavior and therefore have an influence on the therapeutic concept. Because more than 90 % of duodenal NENs are often asymptomatic and are as a rule identified at a curable stage, resection of the tumor should always be the first line of therapy. The therapeutic strategies vary from local endoscopic resection (duodenotomy with excision) up to pancreas retaining duodenectomy and pylorus retaining or classical Whipple procedures. This article presents the various surgical approaches to gastric and duodenal NENs.
Keywords: Gastrointestinal tract; Interdisciplinary management; Neoplasms; Neuroendocrine tumors; Surgical procedures.