TNM staging of midgut and hindgut (neuro) endocrine tumors: a consensus proposal including a grading system

Criteria for the staging and grading of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of midgut and hindgut origin were established at the second Consensus Conference in Frascati (Rome) organized by the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS). The proposed tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) classifications are based on the recently published ENETS Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of gastroenteropancreatic NETs and follow our previous proposal for foregut tumors. The new TNM classifications for NETs of the ileum, appendix, colon, and rectum, and the grading system were designed, discussed, and consensually approved by all conference participants. These proposals need to be validated and are meant to help clinicians in the stratification, treatment and follow-up of patients.

Neuro-imaging of cerebral ischemic stroke

Major progress has recently been made in the neuro-imaging of stroke as a result of improvements in imaging hardware and software. Imaging may be based on either magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) techniques. Imaging should provide information on the entire vascular cervical and intracranial network, from the aortic arch to the circle of Willis. Equally, it should also give information on the viability of brain tissue and brain hemodynamics. CT has the advantage in the detection of acute hemorrhage whereas MRI offers more accurate pathophysiological information in the follow-up of patients.