Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Prognosis

Comprehensive guide on pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor covering causes, pathophysiology, hormone secreting tumors, symptoms, diagnostic tests, imaging, medical therapy, surgery, targeted drugs and long term prognosis for medical and clinical reference.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor

A pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor is a rare tumor arising from hormone producing islet cells of the pancreas that may be hormone secreting or non functioning

What are the main types of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

The main types include insulinoma, gastrinoma, glucagonoma, VIPoma, somatostatinoma and non functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

What symptoms suggest an insulinoma

Symptoms include fasting hypoglycemia, sweating, tremors, confusion, blurred vision and relief after taking glucose

How is pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor diagnosed

Diagnosis is based on hormone blood tests, chromogranin A levels, imaging with CT or MRI, endoscopic ultrasound and Ga 68 DOTATATE PET scan

What is chromogranin A

Chromogranin A is a tumor marker commonly elevated in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and is used for monitoring disease

What is the best imaging test for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor

Ga 68 DOTATATE PET CT is the most sensitive and specific imaging for detecting pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and metastases

What causes Zollinger Ellison syndrome

Zollinger Ellison syndrome is caused by gastrin secreting pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors called gastrinomas

What is MEN1 related pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor

MEN1 is a genetic disorder causing multiple endocrine tumors including pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors along with pituitary and parathyroid tumors

How are pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors treated

Treatment includes surgical removal, somatostatin analogs, targeted therapy like everolimus or sunitinib, chemotherapy and radionuclide therapy

What is the prognosis of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor

Localized pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors have good prognosis with high survival while metastatic disease has lower but still better survival compared to pancreatic cancer