[Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms].

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiology
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) are rare, comprising 1-2% of pancreatic tumors.
• These neoplasms can be hormonally active, causing specific symptoms, or hormonally inactive.
• Accurate diagnosis and staging are essential for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the role of various imaging modalities in the diagnosis and management of pancreatic NEN.
• To highlight the reference standards for primary tumor localization and metastatic evaluation.

Main Methods:

• Review of current imaging techniques including ultrasound, CT, MRI, PET/CT, and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS).
• Emphasis on multiphase CT and MRI for primary tumor localization and liver lesion evaluation.
• Discussion of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy and PET/CT for whole-body staging.

Main Results:

• Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and multiphase CT are reference methods for localizing primary pancreatic tumors.
• MRI is the preferred method for evaluating small liver lesions.
• Somatostatin receptor-based imaging is valuable for comprehensive staging and treatment planning.

Conclusions:

• A multimodal imaging approach is critical for the comprehensive evaluation of pancreatic NEN.
• Specific imaging techniques are optimized for different aspects of diagnosis, from primary tumor detection to metastatic spread.
• Advanced imaging facilitates precise therapy planning and patient management for pancreatic NEN.