A radionuclide (sometimes called a radioisotope or isotope) is a chemical that emits a type of radioactivity called gamma rays.

The use of high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. The radiation may come from a machine outside the body or from radioactive material that is placed in the body near cancer cells.

Pertaining to breathing.

An imaging test that produces two-dimensional images of the distribution of radioactivity in tissues after the internal administration of a radiopharmaceutical imaging agent. Radioactive imaging tests include octreotide scan, bone scintigraphy and MIBG scan.

Also known as a secondary tumor or metastasis. This is a tumor that forms from cancer cells that spread from a primary tumor to other parts of the body. The secondary tumor is the same type of cancer as the primary tumor.

Also known as a metastasis. This is a tumor that forms from cancer cells that spread from a primary tumour to other parts of the body. The secondary tumor is the same type of cancer as the primary tumor.

To release a substance produced by a tissue that may be retained in the body or released from the body.

A hormone made by certain types of cells in the body, mostly (but not limited to) in the gastrointestinal tract. Serotonin helps with various functions, including digestion. Symptoms of (but not limited to) gastrointestinal NETs (GI-NETs) may be caused by an excessive release of serotonin. Not to be confused with serotonin created in the brain.

A way to record images of the gastrointestinal (digestive) system. It involves swallowing a small capsule about the size and shape of a pill. The capsule contains a very small video camera that takes pictures of the inside of the gut.

A hormone that stops the release of other hormones, including gastrin, insulin, glucagon, and serotonin.

Medication that copies or mimics the action of the hormone somatostatin. Somatostatin analogues may reduce the symptoms of NETs by stopping the body from making too many hormones. They may lessen flushing of the skin and diarrhea, and help slow tumor growth. Given by injection.

See also octreotide scan – an imaging test used to find certain tumors, including NETs. Radioactive octreotide is injected into a vein and travels through the blood. A radiation-measuring device (gamma camera) detects the radioactive octreotide, and makes pictures showing where the tumor cells are in the body. Also called somatostatin receptor scintigraphy or SRS.

A procedure that uses high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) to look at tissues and organs inside the body. Ultrasound scans are one of the main imaging techniques used for diagnosing and monitoring NETs. Ultrasound is also known as sonography.

Cells that have specific jobs in the body. They start as unspecialized cells, also known as stem cells, which are present in babies still in the womb. Unspecialized cells can turn into any kind of cell. The DNA in the cell determines the kind of cells they will become. The cells then grow and change shape, becoming Specialized cells.

How far cancer in the body has progressed. Staging is usually based on the size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes in the body contain cancer, and whether the cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.

An oral medication used to treat certain cancers that cannot be removed by surgery, have spread throughout the body (metastasized), or both. This includes pancreatic NETs as well as gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST), a type of cancer of the stomach and bowel, and kidney cancer.

A highly skilled doctor who preforms operations, such as the removal of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs).

Surgery for NETs involves the physical removal of tumors.

A set of symptoms that occur together. A syndrome may be a sign of a certain disease. Or it may mean there’s an increased chance of developing the disease. For example, hypoglycemia syndrome may be caused by a type of NET called an insulinoma, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome may be caused by a type of NET called a gastrinoma.

Drugs or other substances that block the growth, development and spread of cancer cells. These treatments are also known as molecularly targeted therapies.