Bilocal recurrence of a neuroendocrine carcinoma of the small intestine: A case report

INTRODUCTION: Neuroendocrine tumors of the small intestine represent about half of all small intestine neoplasms. Recurrence after surgery with curative intention is frequently observed but recurrence rate has not yet been described or analyzed sufficiently. PRESENTATION OF CASE: In this case bilocal recurrence 4 years after curative surgery of an ileocoecal neuroendocrine carcinoma was observed in a 64 year old female. Diagnosis and follow-up was carried out as proposed in current ENETS guidelines using somatostatin receptor scintigraphy for primary diagnosis and Ga-DOTATOC-PET/CT in follow-up. DISCUSSION: We can confirm that PET/CT for somatostatin receptor imaging shows good sensitivity in detecting neuroendocrine neoplasms and should be preferred for diagnostic, if available. For individual adaptation of follow-up procedures, as far as time intervals and preferred imaging methods are concerned, research on recurrence rate and long term outcome after curative surgery should be extended. CONCLUSION: Livelong follow-up after surgical resection of neuroendocrine tumors is necessary and Ga-DOTA/TOC-PET/CT should be the method of choice, if available.