A prospective analysis of the frequency, location, and curability of ectopic (nonpancreaticoduodenal, nonnodal) gastrinoma.
BACKGROUND
Extrapancreatic, extraduodenal and extralymphatic (ectopic) gastrinomas have been reported only rarely. The frequency, locations, and surgical outcome of these lesions are unknown.


METHODS
From 1982 to 1997, 215 patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome were evaluated prospectively at the National Institutes of Health and 142 patients (66%) underwent standardized surgical exploration and resection. Eight patients (5.6%) (six men and two women; mean age, 41 years) had primary gastrinoma located in ectopic sites. Long-term follow-up was derived from a prospective database.


RESULTS
Ectopic gastrinoma tissue was identified and resected in the liver (three patients), common bile duct (one patient), jejunum (one patient), omentum (one patient), pylorus (one patient), and ovary (one patient). Seven patients (88%) were cured biochemically after resection and five patients (63%) have sustained cures, with a mean follow-up of 7.5 years (range, 0.4 to 11.7 years). One patient with a jejunal primary gastrinoma had a biochemical recurrence at 2 years, and another with a primary hepatic gastrinoma had a recurrence 6 years after resection. A patient with a pyloric primary gastrinoma was not cured.


CONCLUSIONS
Extraduodenal, extrapancreatic, and extranodal gastrinomas are encountered in 5.6% of patients who undergo exploration with curative intent. If no gastrinoma is found in the usual locations, other ectopic sites should be examined carefully. Resection of these primary ectopic tumors can lead to durable biochemical cures.
Wu
P C
PC
Surgical Metabolism Section, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD 20892, USA.
Alexander
H R
HR
Bartlett
D L
DL
Doppman
J L
JL
Fraker
D L
DL
Norton
J A
JA
Gibril
F
F
Fogt
F
F
Jensen
R T
RT
D000328:Adult; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D015408:Gastrinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies