Is long-term follow-up solely by imaging tests safe in non-operated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors?

• Daniela Polette ^[2] ; Juli Busquets ^[2] ; Lluis Secanella Medayo ^[2] ; Maria Sorribas Grifell ^[2] ; Núria Peláez Serra ^[2] ; Catalina Uribe ^[1] ; Laura Martinez-Carnicero ^[3] ; Silvia Salord Vila ^[3] ; Fernando Guerrero ^[3] ; Jose Luis Vercher-Conejero ^[3] ; Alex Teulé ^[4] ; Joan Fabregat ^[2]
  1. [1] Hospital Sant Joan de Deu

     Hospital Sant Joan de Deu

     Barcelona, España

     
  2. [2] Bellvitge University Hospital. Research Group of Hepato-Biliary and Pancreatic Diseases.Universidad de Barcelona. L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona. Spain
  3. [3] Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge.L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona. Spain
  4. [4] Catalan Institute of Oncology.L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona. Spain

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• Localización: Revista Española de Enfermedades Digestivas, ISSN-e 2340-4167, ISSN 1130-0108, Vol. 116, Nº. 4, 2024, págs. 209-215
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Introduction: the diagnosis of asymptomatic sporadic non- functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NF-PNETs) has increased significantly due to the widespread use of high-resolution imaging tests, which is why the most ap- propriate management at the time of diagnosis is the sub- ject of debate, as is how to follow-up patients.

    Aims: the objective of this study was to analyze the fre- quency of imaging and endoscopic studies performed during long-term follow-up.

    Methods: a retrospective review was performed of a data- base collected between January 2008 and December 2020 of patients with an incidental diagnosis of small NF-PNETs;

    follow-up was closed in March 2023. The imaging tests per- formed at the time of diagnosis and long-term follow-up were recorded. Growing less than 1 mm per year has not been considered as a worrisome feature. Follow-up was performed through imaging tests, considering endoscopic cytology for lesions with a faster grow rate.

    Results: fifty-eight patients were included; the median age was 69 years. The initial mean size of the lesions studied was 12.79 mm (5-27). Follow-up was carried out only with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imag- ing (MRI). The initial size did not influence the behavior of the lesion in a statistically significant manner. Twenty-eight tumors (45 %) increased in size, with a growth equal to or less than 4 mm in 24 cases. The mean follow-up time was 82.41 months (12-164). No patient developed metastasis or died from PNET progression.

    Conclusions: the follow-up of neuroendocrine tumors of small size can be performed safely with only imaging tests.