DIAGNOSTIC ADVANCES IN APUDOMAS AND OTHER ENDOCRINE TUMORS - IMAGING AND LOCALIZATION

The different diagnostic imaging modalities available for deter-mining the location of the various APUDomas are discussed with reference to their advantages and disadvantages. The ability to image these lesions , and to be confident in their role in the underlying pathophysiology, and clinical neuroendocrine syndrome causing symptomatology and illne ss, has proved to be the key to successful treatment. In many instance s it is not the diagnosis that is in question, but it is the extent of disease, the location of the lesion, or whether the anatomical abnorm ality under study is responsible for the complicating symptoms being c onsidered, that are the crucial questions. The ability to locate APUDo mas by a variety of direct and indirect imaging or regionalizing modal ities, represent a magnificent advance in the management of these tumo rs. It should, however, be kept in mind that no one modality or diagno stic method can uniformly be relied upon. It is evident that a multimo dal, interactive medical team approach is essential to the successful overall management of patients afflicted with these fascinating tumors . (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.