Neuroendocrine Tumors: An Analysis of Prevalence, Incidence, and Survival in a Hospital-Based Study in Ecuador

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) represent a heterogeneous malignancy group of neoplasms, with a limited amount of data from Latin America. Thus, this observational study aimed to provide data about the prevalence, incidence, and survival rates for NET in Ecuadorian hospitals. The study was conducted using data from the Society for the Fight Against Cancer (SOLCA). We evaluated patients with NETs (2000-2020) using the HJ-Biplot method and Cox proportional hazards. Annual age-adjusted incidence and limited-duration prevalence in multivariable analyses as well as hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality and survival were obtained. In the years 2000-2020, the age-adjusted incidence rate increased by 9-fold in the stomach and by 7-fold in the breast. The incidence rates were 1.38 per 100,000 persons in the lung and at 1.79 per 100,000 persons in gastroenteropancreatic sites (rectum, stomach, and pancreas). The prevalence increased from 0.0027% in 2000 to 0.0736% in 2019 and 0.0245% in 2020. Overall survival was worse for metastatic NETs (HR, 4.061; 95% CI, 1.932-8.540; p < 0.001) and advanced local NETs (HR, 2.348; 95% CI, 1.007-5.475 p < 0.048) than for localized NETs. In conclusion, the NET incidence increased in the last 20 years and survival decreased over time, especially for metastatic tumors in the pancreas and the nostril.