Bone Loss in Patients with Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

Background: Pancreatic diseases may affect nutritional status, which is one of the important associated factors of bone health. High prevalence of osteoporosis or osteopenia has been reported in patients with pancreatitis. The bone loss in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) has not been reported. In this study, we showed the prevalence of bone loss and possible associated factors in PNET patients. Methods: A total of 91 PNET patients were included. Bone status was evaluated based on computed tomography (CT) attenuation (Housfield units, HU): >160 HU, normal bone mineral density; osteopenia, 135 HU ≤ CT value ≤ 160 HU; osteoporosis, <135 HU. Associated factors for bone loss were identified by logistic regression analyses. Results: The average age was 55.76 years old in PNET patients. The prevalence of osteoporosis and low bone mass was 37.4% and 60.4%, respectively. Higher prevalence of osteoporosis was observed in patients older than 50 years (64.0%). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that age was an associated factor for low bone mass (odds ratio (OR) = 1.13, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04−1.22) and osteoporosis (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.03−1.20). Diabetes was also associated with bone loss in PNET patients after adjusting with confounders (OR = 13.56, 95% CI: 1.02−132.4). Conclusions: Our data show that bone loss is common in patients with PNETs. Age and diabetes are associated with bone loss in PNET patients.