Clinical outcome and long-term survival in 118 consecutive patients with neuroendocrine tumours of the pancreas

Br J Surg. 2008 May;95(5):627-35. doi: 10.1002/bjs.6051.

Abstract

Background: The aim was to assess the clinical relevance of the World Health Organization and tumour node metastasis (TNM) classifications in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (pNETs).

Methods: Prospectively collected data from 118 consecutive patients with a pNET receiving surgical intervention were analysed.

Results: Forty-one patients had well differentiated neuroendocrine tumours, 64 had well differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas and 13 had poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas. Five-year survival rates were 95, 44 and 0 per cent respectively (P < 0.001). There was no difference in survival after R0 and R1/R2 resections in patients with neuroendocrine carcinomas (P = 0.905). In those with well differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas, any resection and having a clinically non-functional tumour significantly increased survival (P = 0.003 and P = 0.037 respectively). The TNM stage was I in 37 patients, II in 15 patients, III in 32 patients and IV in 34 patients. There were significant differences in 5-year survival between stage I and II (88 and 85 per cent respectively) and stage III and IV (31 and 42 per cent respectively) (P = 0.010).

Conclusion: Both classifications accurately reflect the clinical outcome of patients with pNET. The resection status may not be critical for long-term survival in patients with pNET.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Epidemiologic Methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Length of Stay
  • Liver Neoplasms / mortality
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / classification
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / mortality*
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / surgery
  • Pancreatectomy / mortality
  • Pancreatectomy / statistics & numerical data
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / classification
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / mortality*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / surgery
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology
  • Postoperative Complications / mortality
  • Reoperation / statistics & numerical data
  • Treatment Outcome