St. Luke’s Hospital Announces First Neuroendocrine Tumor Program in Texas
St. Luke’s Hospital in the Texas Medical Center today announced the launch of its Neuroendocrine Tumor Program, the first in Texas. The program provides a multi-disciplinary approach to the diagnosis and management of neuroendocrine tumors, which are rare, slow-growing tumors that can be difficult to diagnose and treat.
Neuroendocrine tumors are a heterogeneous group of solid tumors that originate from neuroendocrine cells found throughout the body. The majority of neuroendocrine tumors occur in the gastrointestinal tract and the bronchopulmonary system, however others can be found in thyroid and adrenal glands, as well as the central nervous system. There are many types of neuroendocrine tumors, each requiring a different approach in terms of diagnosis and treatment.
“The St. Luke’s neuroendocrine tumor program is dedicated to providing the best patient outcomes through a collaborative care process,” said Omar Barakat, MD, FRCS, Director, St. Luke’s Neuroendocrine Tumor Program.
Detected by imaging, endoscopy, biomarker and genetic testing, the Neuroendocrine Tumor Program offers a wide range of diagnostic tools to reach a definitive diagnosis. The gastroenterologists at St. Luke’s offer advanced endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) for the diagnosis and treatment of neuroendocrine tumors. In addition to state-of-the-art treatments, such as selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT), radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), St. Luke’s is the only program in Texas that offers Peptide Receptor Radiotherapy (PRRT) for advanced neuroendocrine tumors in collaboration with Excel Diagnostics.
