Carcinoid and Neuroendocrine Tumors

Carcinoid and other types of neuroendocrine tumors (tumors made up of neuroendocrine cells) are rare and often so slow growing that even when a tumor is malignant, it can be managed as a chronic — nearly benign — condition.

But because they are so rare, it takes real expertise to properly diagnose neuroendocrine tumors.

Our experienced team at the Neuroendocrine Tumor Clinic offers innovative treatment options to figure out the root cause of your symptoms — for example diarrhea, skin flushing or headaches — are indeed signs you have a neuroendocrine tumor, or something completely different, and then get you proper treatment.

In the event you do need surgery or chemotherapy or other kinds of treatments, we do offer the newest treatments, as well as access to our Infusion Center at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, which serves as a treatment center and urgent-care-type facility for those battling cancer.

Get Your Neuroendocrine Tumors Treated at Nebraska Medicine because:

We Have the Expertise

Our abdominal transplant surgeon specializes in the surgical management of neuroendocrine tumors. The clinic draws patients from across the country for evaluation and treatment.

We can treat adrenal gland disorders and tumors in the adrenal gland, such as pheochromocytomas, which are sometimes cancerous paragangliomas (tumors that form in nerve tissue near blood vessels and nerves) in the middle of the adrenal gland, causing the gland to manufacture too much adrenaline, for example. These tumors are sometimes more likely to appear in people with certain inherited genetic disorders.

We Partner with the University of Nebraska Medical Center 

That means the surgeons performing your surgery are also teaching the latest techniques and treatments to the next generation of doctors. In addition, they also have access to the latest treatment breakthroughs on neuroendocrine tumors. 

We Offer Several Innovative Surgical Options

Our surgeons offer several types of surgical techniques to remove the tumor, including:

• Primary surgical resection
• Staged liver resection
• Liver transplants

Surgery to remove the tumor is the first line of treatment. The staged hepatectomy procedure involves removing a portion of the tumor from the liver. A port vein embolism to block the blood supply to the affected part of the liver is then performed to stimulate growth to the unaffected portion. If the carcinoid tumor is unresectable and localized to the liver the patient may be a possible liver transplant candidate.

We'll Follow you for a Lifetime

These types of tumors tend to recur so we will continue to monitor you for the rest of your life. Our clinic will work closely with your primary care doctor to ensure proper follow-up.

Addressing Your Personal Care Needs

Addressing a patient’s physical, educational, emotional and spiritual needs are important aspects of providing a more complete and holistic approach to care. A host of amenities and supportive services are available to help meet these needs. This includes personal care services such as wigs, wig fittings, prosthetic and bra fittings, yoga, massage therapy, skin care and make-up lessons specifically geared for people with or recovering from cancer are also provided in a private setting.

Cancer Support Services

Finding out that you have cancer can be a very emotional and difficult time. You will likely have many questions and issues to work through. We will be with you every step of the way. Nebraska Medicine offers a host of cancer support services to help you with your physical, emotional, educational and financial needs.

We're Here for you Long After Your Treatment

Our Survivorship Clinic is designed to help you deal with the emotional and physical challenges cancer can leave behind such as fear of recurrence, physical and medical long-term side effects and helping you return to a normal life again. It will also help you transition back into the care of your primary care physician.

Additional resources:

• Carcinoid.org