Epidemiology of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours.

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours are a heterogeneous group of tumours arising from diffuse endocrine cells, causing unique clinical syndromes. These tumours, formerly named carcinoid, can involve any part of the gastrointestinal tract and the endocrine pancreas and have a wide range of malignant potential: from benign to poorly differentiated tumours. In this review we will summarize the data available on the epidemiology of gastroenteropancreatic tumours as it is reported from around the world. This includes annual incidence rates at the various anatomic sites, and trends in incidence rates with time. In addition age and stage at presentation, gender and racial differences and finally prognosis and survival were collected when reported.