Volume 86 - 2023 - Fasc.2 - Guidelines
Belgian guidelines for pathology reporting of neuroendocrine neoplasms of the pancreaticobiliary and gastrointestinal tract. Initialized by the Belgian Group of Digestive Oncology (BGDO) and supported by the BGDO, the BSP (Belgian Society of Pathology) and the BCR (Belgian Cancer Registry)
Since neuroendocrine neoplasms are rare tumors, registration
of patient data in national and multinational registries is
recommended. Indeed, this will facilitate multicenter studies on
the epidemiology, efficacy and safety of diagnostic and therapeutic
strategies for well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors as well
as for neuroendocrine carcinomas. In Belgium, data on patient
and tumor characteristics of all newly diagnosed malignancies
have been collected in the Belgian Cancer Registry since 2004
including anonymized full pathological reports. The Digestive
Neuroendocrine Tumor (DNET) registry collects information
on classification, staging, diagnostic tools and treatment in a
prospective national online database. However, the terminology,
classification and staging systems of neuroendocrine neoplasms
have changed repeatedly over the past 20 years as a result
of a better understanding of these rare tumors, by joining
forces internationally. These frequent changes make it very
difficult to exchange data or perform retrospective analyses. For
optimal decision making, for a clear understanding and to allow
reclassification according to the latest staging system, several items
need to be described in the pathology report. This paper provides
an overview of the essential items in reporting neuroendocrine
neoplasms of the pancreaticobiliary and gastrointestinal tract.
