Recording of a live webinar presented on August 22, 2012

A certified prerecorded webinar for radiologists, oncologists, gastroenterologists, endocrinologists, and other healthcare providers who diagnose and treat patients with NETs

Format:        Archived Webinar
MD Credit:  1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 (Available for physician credit only)
RT Credit:    No ARRT credit available
Fee for Credit Certificate: $0

Click the ENROLL NOW button (left) to register for this program

Imaging of Neuroendocrine Tumors
and Obstacles to Diagnosis

COURSE OVERVIEW
In the past few decades, the overall incidence of neuroendocrine tumors (NETS) has increased, partly because of improved detection rates.1 Nevertheless, patients typically experience long delays of usually 5-7 years before diagnosis of NETs, as these tumors display an array of symptoms and there is a lack of sensitive and specific methods for early detection.2 Approximately 20% of patients with NETs have metastatic disease at presentation, and in half of those patients the primary tumor is not located at initial imaging.1 Most patients lack access to the multidisciplinary early care necessary for optimal management of these complex tumors.

There are an increasing number of new treatment modalities that may result in a better quality of life and longer survival of NETs patients. This lecture will discuss the pivotal role diagnostic imaging plays in the assessment of NETs and in monitoring response to therapy. The role of multidisciplinary collaboration, critical for optimal patient management, will be emphasized.1

1. CarcinoidLink. Diagnosing and MONITORING Carcinoid Syndrome. Available at: http://www.carcinoid.com/patient/understanding/carcinoid-syndrome-diagnosis.jsp.
2. Oberg K, Castellano D. Current knowledge on diagnosis and staging of neuroendocrine tumors. Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2011;30:Suppl 1:3-7.

OBJECTIVES
At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be better able to:

• Discuss the array of symptoms by which neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) can present, as well as the multiple locations NETs typically occur.
• Identify a provisional diagnosis of NETs when patients present with nonspecific complaints that cannot be resolved or complaints that are lumped into a syndrome.
• Describe the diagnostic tools necessary to confirm the presence of NETs.

ACCME ACCREDITATION STATEMENT
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and the International Center for Postgraduate Medical Education. The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation
The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE
There are no fees to participate in this activity.

• To register, click ENROLL NOW, then CONTINUE, CONFIRM ORDER, and ACCESS COURSE NOW.
• Click the blue link. Complete the precourse evaluation and click SUBMIT.
• Once the precourse evaluation is submitted, click on the blue link again to view the course.
• Click on PLAYBACK. To view the streaming video, you may have to download the WebEx Player or Java.

Please note: The WebEx platform will play on desktop or laptop computers only. It will not play on mobile devices.

HOW TO RECIEVE CREDIT

• View the entire one-hour session. The question-and-answer period at the end of the lecture is not required to receive credit.
• At the conclusion of the lecture, close the WebEx Player window. You will be redirected to the ICPME website.
• From the COURSE HOME page, click the buttons for POSTTEST and for EVALUATION.
• A passing grade of at least 75% is required to receive credit.  You may take the test up to three times.
• Upon receipt of a passing grade, you will be able to print a credit certificate from your account on http://www.icpme.us.

FACULTY BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Liu performed his undergraduate studies at Harvard University and received the A.B. degree, magna cum laude, in Biochemistry. He obtained his medical degree at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, NY. Dr. Liu completed a research fellowship in the Islet Transplantation Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital, where he also completed his residency in Surgery. In addition, he completed a clinical research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease in Bethesda, MD.

Dr. Liu was recruited to Vanderbilt in 2009 to develop the Neuroendocrine Center. Prior to opening the center, he studied with renowned neuroendocrine surgeon Kjell Oberg, MD, PhD, in Sweden, who was perfecting the use of radioactive imaging tracers that offered patients exciting new treatment options. Under Dr. Liu’s direction, the Vanderbilt center consists of a coalition of scientists and clinicians working together to provide patients with the most innovative and comprehensive diagnostic tools, as well as treatment therapies that provide the best possible patient outcomes. In October of 2011, he was elected to the Executive Board of the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society.

Dr. Liu’s clinical interests include all aspects of surgical oncology and endocrine surgery with an emphasis on the treatment of neuroendocrine and carcinoid tumors, gastrointestinal, and endocrine diseases. His research interests have focused on islet transplantation and imaging of the beta cell for the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes. Dr. Liu has also worked extensively in immunology and transplantation.

Dr. Liu is well-published in his areas of research and clinical expertise, and has received several awards for his research and teaching.

DISCLOSURE INFORMATION
The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) assesses conflict of interest with its instructors, planners, managers, and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of CME activities. All relevant conflicts of interest that are identified are thoroughly vetted by PIM for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies utilized in this activity, and patient care recommendations. PIM is committed to providing its learners with high quality CME activities and related materials that promote improvements or quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of a commercial interest.
The faculty below reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Eric H. Liu, MD has received fees for non-CME services from Novartis.

The planners and managers below reported NO financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Sharon Cancino
Laura Excell, ND, NP, MS, MA, LPC, NCC
Trace Hutchison, PharmD
Samantha Mattiucci, PharmD
Linda McLean, MS
Victoria Phoenix, BS
Lisa Schleelein, MEd
Patricia Staples, MSN, NP-C, CCRN

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use
This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. PIM, ICPME, NANETS, and Covidien do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the view of PIM, ICPME, NANETS, and Covidien. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings. 

QUESTIONS

For questions regarding this program, please contact ICPME:
Email: information@icpmed.com
Phone: 607-257-5860

Jointly Sponsored by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine
International Center for Postgraduate Medical Education
and North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society
                            


Supported by an educational grant from

Disclaimer
Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.