How is NET diagnosed?

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How is NET diagnosed?

Carcinoid tumors often are found by accident when people are getting tests for other conditions. For example, a healthcare provider may find a carcinoid tumor during:

  • Colonoscopy (lower endoscopy) to screen for colon cancer.
  • Surgery to remove an appendix when a person has appendicitis.
  • Upper endoscopy to look for an ulcer.

But if a healthcare provider suspects you have a carcinoid tumor based on flushing or other symptoms, they may order:

  • Biochemical tests, which measure the amounts of certain hormones and chemicals in a blood or urine sample.
  • Endoscopy, which uses a thin tube with a light and camera on the end to look inside of your GI tract.
  • Other imaging tests to take pictures inside of your body, such as CT scan, PET scan or MRI.

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