The European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society has released recommendations for best practice management of pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors including typical and atypical carcinoids.

Pulmonary carcinoids (PC) are rare tumors with an age-adjusted incidence rate ranging from 0.2 to 2 per 100,000 people annually in the United States and in Europe.

Highlights from the recommendations include:

  • Pathology reports on NETs should be shared by the multidisciplinary team of oncologists, radiologists, nuclear medicine physicians, surgeons, pneumologists and endocrinologists, where pathologists contribute to the clinical decision-making process;
  • Separation of typical carcinoids (TC) and atypical carcinoids (AC) requires a surgical specimen. TC and AC cannot be reliably distinguished from each other in small biopsy and cytology;
  • Bronchoscopy may be required for the staging and assessment of central airway tumors preoperatively.