Primary small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors are highly prevalent and often multiple before metastatic disease develops

Abstract

Most small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors are subclinical, and persons living with them will often die due to other causes. There was a high rate of multiple primary tumors (40%), suggesting that multiple tumors seem to arise before the advent of metastatic disease. Moreover, a comparably high rate of associated colorectal carcinoma was found.