Pancreatic endocrine neoplasms: epidemiology and prognosis of pancreatic endocrine tumors
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA1Department of Surgery, Rochester, Minnesota, USA2Department of Health Sciences Research, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
- (Correspondence should be addressed to T R Halfdanarson who is now at Division of Hematology, Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA; Email: thorvardur-halfdanarson{at}uiowa.edu)
Abstract
Pancreatic endocrine tumors (PETs) are uncommon tumors with an annual incidence <1 per 100 000 person-years in the general population. The PETs that produce hormones resulting in symptoms are designated as functional. The majority of PETs are non-functional. Of the functional tumors, insulinomas are the most common, followed by gastrinomas. The clinical course of patients with PETs is variable and depends on the extent of the disease and the treatment rendered. Patients with completely resected tumors generally have a good prognosis, and aggressive surgical therapy in patients with advanced disease may also prolong survival. The epidemiology, prognosis, and established and novel prognostic markers of PETs are reviewed.
- © 2008 Society for Endocrinology
