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Published on: April 7, 2018
Surveillance strategy for small asymptomatic non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors - a systematic review
Ville Sallinen1, Tessa Y S Le Large2, Shamil Galeev3
1Department of Abdominal Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Transplantation and Liver Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Background:
Non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NF-PNET) are rare neoplasms being increasingly diagnosed. Surgical treatment or expectant management are both suggested for small NF-PNETs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of surveillance strategy for small NF-PNETs.
Methods:
A systematic search was performed up to March 2016 in MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library according to the PRISMA guidelines. Data was pooled using the random-effects model.
Results:
Nine articles including 344 patients with sporadic and 64 patients with MEN1 related NF-PNET were selected. Tumor growth was observed in 22% and 52%, development of metastases were reported on 0% and 9%, and rate of secondary surgical resection was 12% and 25% in patients with sporadic or MEN1 related NF-PNETs, respectively. All metastases (1 distant, 4 nodal) were reported by a single study in patients with MEN1. Reason for secondary surgery was tumor growth in half of patients undergoing surgery.
Discussion:
Expectant management of small asymptomatic, sporadic, NF-PNETs could be a reasonable option in highly selected patients. However, the level of evidence is low and longer follow-up is needed to identify patients could benefit from upfront surgery instead of expectant treatment.
