Health condition
NET surveillance and markers
After a neuroendocrine tumour diagnosis or resection, structured surveillance - imaging at set intervals plus blood markers such as chromogranin A - detects recurrence early, over follow-up periods measured in decades rather than years.
Why trust this guide
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Editorial team
Written by our editorial team from the UK sources listed on each page.
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Sourced from guidance
Checked against current NHS and UK specialist society guidance at the time of review.
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Current for 2026
Reviewed on 2026-09-27 with the next review scheduled for 2027-09-27.
Key facts
The essentials at a glance.
The symptoms to recognise, when to seek help, which specialist to see, and what treatment usually involves.
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NETs can recur ten or more years after apparently curative surgery, so follow-up is long - often lifelong
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Chromogranin A is the workhorse blood marker, but PPIs, kidney impairment and atrophic gastritis all raise it falsely
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Specific markers are added by tumour type: 5-HIAA for serotonin-producing tumours, gut hormones for pancreatic NETs
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Imaging schedules combine CT or MRI at guideline intervals with DOTATATE PET when recurrence is suspected
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Surveillance intensity is tailored to grade, site, and completeness of resection - an MDT should set the schedule
Understanding the condition
What it is and what happens next.
What causes it, how it is diagnosed, and the treatment routes available in the UK.
What it is and how it feels
The slow biology that makes NETs survivable also makes them patient: microscopic residual disease can take a decade to resurface, long after conventional cancer follow-up would have ended. Surveillance therefore runs on a different clock. Markers help but mislead the unwary - chromogranin A rises with everyday PPI use, one of the commonest sources of false alarm and unnecessary scanning - so interpretation belongs with clinicians who track trends rather than single values.
Diagnosis and treatment routes
A well-built plan specifies which marker suits your tumour (chromogranin A, urinary or plasma 5-HIAA, specific peptides), the imaging modality that showed your disease best, the interval by grade and stage, and who owns the schedule - drift between hospitals is where surveillance quietly lapses. Rising markers or symptoms trigger DOTATATE PET rather than waiting for the next routine scan. If your follow-up has become irregular, re-anchoring it matters; a private NET review is typically available within about two weeks.
Seeing a specialist
Who to see, and how quickly you can be seen.
The specialist for this condition is usually a consultant endocrinologist or NET specialist. Your GP can refer you on the NHS, or you can arrange a private consultation directly.
A quiet reminder
This guide is for information, not medical advice.
Your GP knows your history and can tell you which parts apply to you. If in doubt, see them - and seek urgent care for any of the emergency symptoms described above.
Frequently asked
Common questions about NET surveillance and markers.
Quick, plain-English answers to what people ask us most.
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What is NET surveillance and what are the relevant markers?
NET surveillance refers to the ongoing monitoring of people with neuroendocrine tumours using blood tests, imaging and sometimes specific tumour markers such as chromogranin A, to track disease stability or detect recurrence.
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Why is regular surveillance needed for neuroendocrine tumours?
NETs can behave unpredictably, sometimes remaining stable for years and other times growing slowly or recurring after treatment, so regular monitoring helps detect any change early, when treatment options are most effective.
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What blood markers are used to monitor neuroendocrine tumours?
Chromogranin A is the most commonly used general marker, while specific hormone levels may also be monitored depending on the tumour's functional characteristics, such as serotonin-related markers for certain gut NETs.
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How often is NET surveillance typically performed?
Frequency varies depending on tumour type, grade and treatment history, ranging from every three to six months for higher-risk disease to annual monitoring for very stable, low-grade tumours.
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Can blood markers alone be relied on for NET surveillance?
No, blood markers are used alongside imaging such as CT, MRI or specialised nuclear medicine scans, since markers alone can be affected by other factors and don't always reflect the full picture of tumour behaviour.
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When should I discuss my NET surveillance schedule, and how quickly can a private review be arranged?
Discuss your surveillance plan with your specialist team at diagnosis and at each follow-up. A private oncologist experienced in neuroendocrine tumours can typically arrange review within about one to two weeks if earlier reassessment is needed.