BACKGROUND: Incidentally discovered nonfunctioning pancreatic endocrine tumors (NF-pNETs) increasingly are being detected, and their management is debated. Moreover, the prognostic importance of incidental diagnosis for locally advanced or metastatic NF-pNETs is unknown. The aim of this study is to analyze the outcomes of incidentally discovered/symptomatic NF-pNETs stratified by tumor stage. A preliminary experience with nonoperative treatment of incidental NF-pNETs is reported. METHODS: Consecutive patients with symptomatic/incidental NF-PETs observed between 1990 and 2009 were analyzed, with different tumor stages considered. Nonoperative management of incidental NF-pNETs was evaluated. RESULTS: Among 355 patients with NF-pNETs, the diagnosis was incidental in 124 (35%). Incidental NF-pNETs were associated more commonly with lower tumor stages compared with symptomatic tumors (P < .0001), but 30% of incidental NF-pNETs were stage III-IV. Incidental NF-pNETs had greater rates of radical resections and of R0 margins (P < .0001). Five-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 83% and 32% for incidental and symptomatic NF-pNETs, respectively (P < .0001). Five-year PFS was better for incidental NF-pNETs compared with symptomatic tumors for each tumor stage, including stage III (69% vs 27%, P < .0001) and stage IV (60% vs 17%, P = .112). After a median follow-up of 36 months, there was no tumor progression in 12 patients who underwent nonoperative management of incidental NF-pNETs. CONCLUSION: A total of 30% of incidental NF-pNETs present with stage III-IV disease. PFS is much greater for incidental NF-pNETs compared with symptomatic patients, and this difference is evident also for stage III-IV tumors, suggesting that absence of symptoms may indicate a less-aggressive disease. Nonoperative management can be an alternative to surgery in selected incidental NF-pNETs.

Incidental diagnosis as prognostic factor in different tumor stages of nonfunctioning pancreatic endocrine tumors

CRIPPA, Stefano;PARTELLI, Stefano;ZAMBONI, Giuseppe;SCARPA, Aldo;BASSI, Claudio;PEDERZOLI, Paolo;
2014-01-01

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Incidentally discovered nonfunctioning pancreatic endocrine tumors (NF-pNETs) increasingly are being detected, and their management is debated. Moreover, the prognostic importance of incidental diagnosis for locally advanced or metastatic NF-pNETs is unknown. The aim of this study is to analyze the outcomes of incidentally discovered/symptomatic NF-pNETs stratified by tumor stage. A preliminary experience with nonoperative treatment of incidental NF-pNETs is reported. METHODS: Consecutive patients with symptomatic/incidental NF-PETs observed between 1990 and 2009 were analyzed, with different tumor stages considered. Nonoperative management of incidental NF-pNETs was evaluated. RESULTS: Among 355 patients with NF-pNETs, the diagnosis was incidental in 124 (35%). Incidental NF-pNETs were associated more commonly with lower tumor stages compared with symptomatic tumors (P < .0001), but 30% of incidental NF-pNETs were stage III-IV. Incidental NF-pNETs had greater rates of radical resections and of R0 margins (P < .0001). Five-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 83% and 32% for incidental and symptomatic NF-pNETs, respectively (P < .0001). Five-year PFS was better for incidental NF-pNETs compared with symptomatic tumors for each tumor stage, including stage III (69% vs 27%, P < .0001) and stage IV (60% vs 17%, P = .112). After a median follow-up of 36 months, there was no tumor progression in 12 patients who underwent nonoperative management of incidental NF-pNETs. CONCLUSION: A total of 30% of incidental NF-pNETs present with stage III-IV disease. PFS is much greater for incidental NF-pNETs compared with symptomatic patients, and this difference is evident also for stage III-IV tumors, suggesting that absence of symptoms may indicate a less-aggressive disease. Nonoperative management can be an alternative to surgery in selected incidental NF-pNETs.
2014
nonfunctioning pancreatic endocrine tumors (NF-pNETs)
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11562/693168
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 26
  • Scopus 75
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 72
social impact