| Theme |
Update on Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors |
| Title |
Diagnosis of the Rare Functional Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors |
| Author |
Yohei Nakashima |
Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University |
| Author |
Takao Ohtsuka |
Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University |
| Author |
Yasuhisa Mori |
Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University |
| Author |
Kohei Nakata |
Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University |
| Author |
Yoshihiro Miyasaka |
Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University |
| Author |
Masafumi Nakamura |
Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University |
| [ Summary ] |
Functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors present symptoms related to excess secretion of specific hormones produced by the tumors. Except for insulinoma and gastrinoma, other functional tumors such as glucagonoma, VIPoma, somatostatinoma, ACTHoma, and serotoninoma are quite rare. The presence of these tumors is suspected in patients with specific symptoms and the diagnoses are made based on imaging tests including ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, endoscopic ultrasonography, and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy; increased plasma concentrations of specific hormones; and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology/histology. The functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are occasionally small and often difficult to be detected only by imaging tests, and thus, differential diagnoses should be considered during the assessment of the patients presenting unexplained symptoms. |