Rudolf Hyrdel, Janka Božíková, Michal Demeter, Jaroslav Sulitka
The authors reviewed classification of neuroendocrine tumors (NET) in accordance with the new WHO classification into NET of pancreas and NET of stomach and intestinal system (initially referred to as carcinoid tumors). They are tumors of relatively low insidence - 8 - 10 cases per year over 1 mil. population. Instead of their benign characteristics they cause life threatening complications because of their hormonal activity. Tumors are divided according to occurence into sporadic (mostly solitary) and familial – genetically determined (mostly multiplex, afflicting more endocrine glands) and according to their function into functional and unfunctional. Functional tumors are manitested and diagnosed easier because of their activity. Most of them have a typical clinical picture according to which they can be diagnosed. Particular types are described in details. The authors emphasize diagnostics of gastrinomas which belong to the largest group in Europe.