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Nonfunctional and functional pNETs

OVERVIEW

Nonfunctional and functional pNETs

Although nonfunctional pNETs can grow for a long time without causing signs or symptoms, the size of the tumor may cause:

  • Diarrhea
  • Indigestion
  • A lump in the abdomen
  • Pain in the abdomen or back
  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eye) if a bile duct is blocked

Functional pNETs can overproduce and release large amounts of these hormones into the bloodstream, depending on the endocrine cell of origin:

Insulin: lowers the levels of sugar in the blood
Glucagon: increases the levels of sugar in the blood
Gastrin: gives a signal to the stomach to produce more stomach acid
Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP): helps control water, salt, enzyme, and gastric acid secretions in the body. It also plays a role in the relaxation of smooth muscle in the digestive tract, heart, and blood vessels
Somatostatin: helps regulate other hormones in the body

When a pNET releases hormones, it may also be called:

  • Insulinoma
  • Glucagonoma
  • Gastrinoma
  • VIPoma
  • Somatostatinoma

Nonfunctional and functional nets

Learn more about functional and nonfunctional NETs in these sites.