Medically Reviewed By: Dr. Neeraj Goel, MBBS, MS, MCh (GI Surgery)
Designation: Director – GI Oncology, GI & HPB Surgery
Clinical Review Date: August 22, 2026
Neuroendocrine tumors—or NETs—are an uncommon type of tumor that starts inside neuroendocrine cells scattered across your body. These cells are like a cross between nerve cells and hormone-producing cells.
Most people who get them have tumors that grow very slowly, and they can sit quietly for years before anyone spots them. Most folks only find them by accident during a routine ultrasound or scan for something else. But some can turn aggressive and spread into nearby lymph nodes or the liver. Modern treatments bring together targeted pills, radioactive therapies, precise surgery, and liver procedures to get rid of the tumor while making sure your digestion and body keep working properly.
These cells help manage daily jobs all over your gut and organs:
You need these systems to run smoothly to feel well. Because these cells make hormones, a tumor can either dump extra hormones into your blood and cause odd flare-ups, or simply sit quiet and slowly get bigger.
Having a risk factor does not mean you will definitely get a tumor, but it is a good reason to get checked if something feels off.
Symptoms to Look Out For. At first, you might not feel a thing. What you feel later depends on where the lump is and whether it makes hormones:
Resection and Organ-Sparing Removal If the tumor has not spread too far, cutting it out gives you the cleanest shot at getting rid of it for good:
Liver Metastases Care: Because NETs commonly travel to the liver, we use direct liver treatments to keep things under control:
Targeted Medications & PRRT When surgery is not on the table or tumors have spread, medical therapies step in to keep things in check:
With over two decades experience, our focus has always been on the intricate work of complex pancreatic NETs, bowel surgeries, and liver resections. We combine that hands-on surgical experience with robotic and keyhole tools, allowing us to remove tumors cleanly through tiny, gentle cuts rather than large incisions. You also get far more than just a surgeon in your corner—you have a full team of medical oncologists, nuclear medicine doctors, endocrinologists, and radiologists working closely together to build a personalized care plan tailored to your exact situation.
Treating a neuroendocrine tumor is all about finding the right balance: getting rid of the tumor completely while making sure you keep good digestive and metabolic health. Because many of these tumors grow slowly, taking out the main lump and clearing liver spots gives patients strong long-term survival and a normal daily life. Using keyhole and robotic tools lets us clear the growth cleanly through small cuts, so most patients are up walking the very next day and ready to head home quickly.
Yes. When we catch them early and take them out cleanly with surgery, localized NETs have very high cure rates.
No. Pancreatic NETs start in hormone-making cells and usually grow much slower than typical pancreatic ductal cancer, so they have different treatments and much better outlooks.
This tracer molecule is taken up straight by neuroendocrine cells, which light up on PET scan. These tumors can sometimes be missed by CTor MRI.
PRRT connects a tumor-seeking molecule to a small dose of radiation, taking it directly inside the cancer cells to destroy them from within while sparing healthy organs.
Chromogranin A is a protein made by neuroendocrine cells. A higher number can flag an active tumor and helps us track how well your treatment is working over time.
