Treatment of Neuroendocrine Tumors in the Small Intestine

For information about the treatments listed below, see the Treatment Option Overview section.

It is not clear what the best treatment is for gastrointestinal (GI) neuroendocrine tumors in the duodenum (first part of the small intestine, that connects to the stomach). Treatment may include the following:

• Endoscopic surgery (resection) for small tumors.
• Surgery (local excision) to remove slightly larger tumors.
• Surgery (resection) to remove the tumor and nearby lymph nodes.

Treatment of GI neuroendocrine tumors in the jejunum (middle part of the small intestine) and ileum (last part of the small intestine, that connects to the colon) may include the following:

• Surgery (resection) to remove the tumor and the membrane that connects the intestines to the back of the abdominal wall. Nearby lymph nodes are also removed.
• A second surgery to remove the membrane that connects the intestines to the back of the abdominal wall, if any tumor remains or the tumor continues to grow.
• Hormone therapy.

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