Abstract
Objectives Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET) are fairly uncommon. Recent data highlight the importance of EUS in diagnosis of PNET. With this background, we decided to review our experience from a tertiary cancer center with regard to the presentation and clinical features of PNET and the diagnostic utility of EUS-FNA in this scenario. Methods We identified patients who underwent EUS at our institution between January 1st 2001 and December 31st 2009 for a suspected PNET. Data on clinical features, cross-sectional imaging findings, EUS findings, and cytology results were collected. Results A total of 81 patients were referred for EUS-FNA for a suspected PNET. Mean age was 58.1 years. There were 41 (50.6%) males. PNET was found incidentally in 38 (46.9%) patients. Computed tomography scanning identified a pancreatic mass in 72 out of 79 (91.1%) cases. Mean diameter of the largest lesion seen on EUS was 27.5 mm (range: 6.9-80 mm). The most common site (34; 42%) was the head of the pancreas. EUS-FNA correctly confirmed a PNET in 73 out of 81 cases with diagnostic accuracy of 90.1%. Seven (8.6%) out of 81 patients had functional lesions, including three gastrinomas and four insulinomas. Liver metastases were found in 31 out of 81 (38.3%) cases. Of the 31 patients with liver metastasis, the mean diameter of lesions on EUS was 33.9 mm compared with 23.5 mm in patients without liver metastasis (P = 0.005). Conclusion EUS-FNA is a reliable modality for further characterization of suspected lesions and for establishing a tissue diagnosis. The occurrence of complications of EUSFNA in this setting is low. Non-functional PNET are more frequently encountered than functional PNET.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 791-800 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Digestive diseases and sciences |
Volume | 57 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2012 |
Keywords
- Endoscopic ultrasound
- Fine needle aspiration
- Insulinomas
- MEN-1
- Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physiology
- Gastroenterology
MD Anderson CCSG core facilities
- Biostatistics Resource Group