Neuroendocrine tumor difficult to diagnose

• May 7, 2024

Philippe Parker he suffers a strange cancer, so rare that few have heard of his illness, "neuroendocrine tumor "(SPL). An evil that develops in the hormone-producing cells and that starts in them in response to signals from the nervous system.

Philippe, a resident of London, was very lucky since the disease was diagnosed a semester after the first symptoms, among which were abdominal pains Y itch caused by jaundice. There are patients who have had to wait until 5 years to discover with certainty this disease.

At first it was believed that his symptoms were due to a contagion of hepatitis or some inflammation. But an ultrasound revealed that Philippe, 39, had a blockage in the pancreas. An unusual and difficult to determine tumor.

Janet French, of the Association for Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Disorders (AMEND) stated that in these cases obtaining an accurate diagnosis is difficult, that on average patients visit the doctor general some 30 times before being referred to the specialist. "There is a lack of knowledge in all sectors of National Health Services and patients need to be treated in a specialized center where the medical staff really knows the disease and knows what to do and when to do it."

Philippe pointed out that this cancer is not curable, that it is not one of those types of cancer that can be combated. When locating in the endocrine system does not allow a remission, you always have to continue with a treatment.

The teacher Martyn Caplin , specialist gastroenterologist who directs the unit of neuroendrocrine tumors of the Royal Free, affirms that it is important to publicize the disease since more than 90% of the patients are incorrectly diagnosed and initially treated in the wrong way.

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Source BBCMundo.com

Video Medicine: Neuroendocrine Tumors - The Nebraska Medical Center (May 2024).