Nonfunctioning neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas: clinical presentation of 7 patients.

Background: Neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas (NPT) are rare and represent less than 0.5% of all pancreatic tumors.

Materials And Methods: The authors describe the clinical presentation, the pathological findings and the treatment of 7 patients with nonfunctioning NPT.

Results: Non-specific symptoms were noted in 6 patients, depending on the size and the location of the tumor, and 1 patient was asymptomatic. A correct preoperative diagnosis was done in only one case. Immunohistochemical studies, most often on surgically resected tissue sample is needed for diagnosis of NPT. The treatment requires surgical resection. Among 4 patients (57%) classified No at the time of surgery, 3 (75%) are alive, free of recurrence, more than 2 years after tumor resection.

Conclusion: The preoperative diagnosis is difficult to assess. NPT differ from pancreatic adenocarcinomas by the younger age of the patients, their immunohistochemical pattern and a better prognosis after surgical resection.