A Rare Presentation of Low-grade Neuroendocrine Tumour

Neuroendocrine tumours are believed to arise from various cells of the neuroendocrine system. Neuroendocrine cells are present not only in endocrine glands throughout the body that produce various hormones, but also diffusely in body tissues. The majority of neuroendocrine tumours are well differentiated as they usually retain the organ architecture typical of the neuroendocrine organ from where they originate, and they have low proliferative index. Clinical course is highly variable. Small tumours without poor prognostic features are cured by surgical resection. Even if the tumour is advanced and has metastasised where curative surgery is not feasible, surgery often has a role in neuroendocrine cancers for controlling symptoms and, possibly, improves survival. Patients who have metastasis at presentation may live long, thus improving quality of life is important in management. Unfortunately, response to conventional chemotherapy is very low. With the availability of newer agents, disease control rates may increase. Here we report a case with low-grade neuroendocrine tumour with widespread metastases at presentation. The patient was put on everolimus, an oral inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin, and has shown good clinical and radiological response.