Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: our approach.
OBJECTIVE
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors constitute a small percentage of pancreatic tumors. Surgical resection is the best treatment for these types of tumors. Aggressive surgical resection including multivisceral resection provides long-term survival. Even palliative resection of the tumor is justifiable. Here we share our experience with the management of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.


METHODS
Between January 1993 and April 2007 we operated on 54 patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. We have analyzed our data retrospectively. Patients were analyzed in terms of demographic characteristics, operative procedure, postoperative outcome and survival.


RESULTS
Out of 54 patients, 31 patients had nonfunctional tumor and 23 patients had functional tumors. Neuroendocrine carcinoma was found in 19 patients. Pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed in 21 patients. Simultaneous liver resection was performed in 4 patients and multiorgan resection for locally advanced pancreatic tumor was performed in 3 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgical resection is the best option for the treatment of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Aggressive resection provides survival benefit and a better quality of life. If the entire gross tumor can be resected, multiorgan resection or simultaneous liver resection is justifiable.
Department of Surgical Oncology, Athens Medical Center, Psychicko, Athens, Greece.
Rajan B
RB
Jagad
Mahim
M
Koshariya
Jun
J
Kawamoto
P
P
Papastratis
H
H
Kefalourous
V
V
Patris
T
T
Porfiris
Pascailis
P
Gevrielidis
Christina
C
Tzouma
N J
NJ
Lygidakis
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D019160:Endosonography; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D007205:Indium Radioisotopes; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D007205:Indium Radioisotopes; D013004:Somatostatin; C081788:pentetreotide