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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
07:08
Reprogramming Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma to Pluripotency
Published on: February 2, 2024
Primary carcinoid tumour of the pancreas
José Alejandro Pérez-Fidalgo1, Amparo Oltra Ferrando, Antonio López Jiménez
1Sección de Oncología Médica, Hospital Virgen de los Lirios, Alcoy, Alicante, Spain. japfidalgo@msn.com
Summary
Pancreatic carcinoid tumors are rare, often indolent, and diagnosed late. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges and successful treatment via surgical resection and liver transplantation.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Pancreatic carcinoid tumors are rare neuroendocrine neoplasms with typically indolent behavior.
- Late diagnosis is common, often occurring incidentally or during investigation of metastatic disease.
Observation:
- A patient presented with liver metastases of unknown primary origin.
- Initial positron emission tomography (PET) scan suggested a pancreatic primary, leading to an initial diagnosis of adenocarcinoma.
- Subsequent histological reassessment after treatment indicated a pancreatic carcinoid tumor.
Findings:
- The initial diagnosis of adenocarcinoma was revised to pancreatic carcinoid tumor after treatment response was uncertain.
- Complete surgical resection combined with liver transplantation resulted in disease-free survival for the patient.
Implications:
- The diagnostic complexity of pancreatic carcinoid tumors necessitates careful histological evaluation, especially when initial imaging or pathology is equivocal.
- While PET has limitations, 111Indium-octreotide scans may offer superior utility in evaluating carcinoid tumors.
- Surgical resection is the primary curative modality, with liver transplantation serving as a viable option for advanced cases.
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