2006 SSAT Annual Meeting
Cytoreduction Results in High Perioperative Mortality and Decreased Survival in Patients Undergoing Pancreatectomy for Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Pancreas

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gassur.2006.09.004Get rights and content

We reviewed our experience with pancreatectomy for neuroendocrine tumors (NE) to determine outcomes after R0/R1 or R2 resection and compare them to patients in whom resection was not attempted. Data were reviewed for all patients presenting with NE tumors of the pancreas between 1990 and 2005. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were compared by log-rank analysis. Multivariate analysis was completed using Cox proportional hazards to identify risk factors for poor survival after resection. Of 120 patients, 65 (54%) had functional tumors. Resection was undertaken in 83: distal pancreatectomy in 41, pancreaticoduodenectomy in 27, enucleation in 14, and central pancreatectomy in 1. Survival was significantly longer after resection (91 months versus 24, P < 0.001). R0/R1 resection was accomplished in 64 (77%) and resulted in lower perioperative mortality (2% versus 21%, P < 0.01) and longer survival (112 months versus 24, P < 0.001) compared to R2 resection. Survival after R2 resection was no better than after no resection. Factors predictive of decreased survival were moderate/poor differentiation, R2 resection, and high-risk features. Long-term survival is possible following complete resection for NE tumors of the pancreas. However, cytoreduction resulting in incomplete tumor removal carries significant perioperative mortality without long-term survival benefit and should be discouraged.

Key words

Neuroendocrine
pancreas
endocrine
islet cell carcinoma
survival

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Presented at the Forty-Seventh Annual Meeting of The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Los Angeles, California, May 22, 2006.

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