Neuroendocrine tumors of the urinary system: literature review

Abstract

Most often, neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) is found in the gastrointestinal tract, broncho-pulmonary system, but they can also occur in other organs, such as the kidney, bladder, which is of most interest because of the rarity of this pathology. Until recently, there was not even a proper morphological classification for kidney NEC, and among some histological types, such as large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the kidney, only about 7 cases were recorded, and independent bladder carcinoids, about 15 cases. Currently, there are no clinical and morphological features of the NEC of the kidney and bladder, fundamentally distinguishing them from other neuroendocrine tumors and “classic” cancer of the same localization. This article also provides the data of the N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Centre of Oncology on the incidence of all malignant neoplasms of the urinary system.