Case count patterns and survival of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors in a large healthcare network: A retrospective analysis (2012–2024)

Abstract

Introduction: Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors (GI NETs) represent 1–2% of malignancies arising in the digestive tract, and the incidence has increased in recent years due to greater use of diagnostic tools. However, institution-level patterns in GI NET case counts and survival remain undercharacterized

Objective: This study aims to evaluate demographic and site-specific case count patterns and survival outcomes across a large multi-hospital healthcare system.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 1,813 patients diagnosed with GI NETs across MedStar Health from November 2012 to September 2024. Cases were identified using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. Tumors were categorized as benign, malignant, or mixed coding history based on ICD patterns. Case counts were stratified by sex, race, age, and tumor site. Survival analyses used unadjusted Kaplan–Meier curves and log-rank tests to compare tumor categories and six anatomical sites (appendix, large intestine, pancreas, rectum, small intestine, stomach).

Results: GI NET case counts increased over the study period, with higher counts observed among women and individuals aged 51–74 years. Most diagnoses occurred in White (45.8%) and Black (40.7%) patients. Small-intestinal and rectal NETs were the most frequently identified. Survival patterns showed that female sex, White race, younger age, and benign tumors were associated with the most favorable outcomes. Among all anatomical sites, rectal NETs demonstrated the highest long-term survival.

Conclusion: This large institutional study highlights meaningful demographic and site-specific variation in GI NET case counts and descriptive survival patterns. These findings underscore the need for future research addressing access-related and sociodemographic contributors to GI NET outcomes.

Keywords

Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors / Survival outcomes / Case patterns / Retrospective analysis

Acknowledgements

None.

Funding

None.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Author contributions

Conceptualization:Fan Cao and Priyanka Kanth

Formal analysis: Fan Cao and Jiling Chou

Investigation: Priyanka Kanth

Methodology: Fan Cao and Priyanka Kanth

Writing–original draft: Fan Cao

Writing–review & editing: Fan Cao, Priyanka Kanth, Michael Tseng

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This study was reviewed and approved by Institution Review Board of MedStar Health Research Institute (Approval ID. STUDY00008275). Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Consent for publication

All participants provided informed consent for the publication of the findings derived from this study. Where applicable, participants gave explicit permission for the publication of any data, images, or information that could potentially reveal their identity. The authors affirm that all relevant consent forms have been obtained and are available upon request.

Availability of data

Data are available upon request from corresponding author.

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