Nonfunctioning neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas: clinical presentation of 7 patients.
BACKGROUND
Neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas (NPT) are rare and represent less than 0.5% of all pancreatic tumors.


METHODS
The authors describe the clinical presentation, the pathological findings and the treatment of 7 patients with nonfunctioning NPT.


RESULTS
Non-specific symptoms were noted in 6 patients, depending on the size and the location of the tumor, and 1 patient was asymptomatic. A correct preoperative diagnosis was done in only one case. Immunohistochemical studies, most often on surgically resected tissue sample is needed for diagnosis of NPT. The treatment requires surgical resection. Among 4 patients (57%) classified No at the time of surgery, 3 (75%) are alive, free of recurrence, more than 2 years after tumor resection.


CONCLUSIONS
The preoperative diagnosis is difficult to assess. NPT differ from pancreatic adenocarcinomas by the younger age of the patients, their immunohistochemical pattern and a better prognosis after surgical resection.
Closset
J
J
Department of Digestive Surgery and Gastroenterology, and Pathology Hôpital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium.
Delhaye
M
M
Sperduto
N
N
Rickaert
F
F
Gelin
M
M
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010180:Pancreatectomy; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies