Trends in the Incidence, Prevalence, and Survival Outcomes in Patients With Neuroendocrine Tumors in the United States

The incidence and prevalence of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are thought to be rising, but updated epidemiologic data are lacking.

To explore the evolving epidemiology and investigate the effect of therapeutic advances on survival of patients with NETs. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective, population-based study using nationally representative data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program was conducted to evaluate 64 971 patients with NETs from 1973 to 2012. Associated population data were used to determine annual age-adjusted incidence, limited-duration prevalence, and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates. Trends in survival from 2000 to 2012 were evaluated for the entire cohort as well as specific subgroups, including distant-stage gastrointestinal NETs and pancreatic NETs. Analyses were conducted between December 2015, and February 2017. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Neuroendocrine tumor incidence, prevalence, and OS rates.