Korean J Gastroenterol.  2003 Jul;42(1):57-62.

Clinical Characteristics and Malignant Predictive Factors in Patients with Nonfunctioning Islet Cell Tumors of the Pancreas

• Kim HJ
• Kim MH
• Lee SK
• Lee SS
• Bae JS
• Jang MK
• Byeon JS
• Min YI
• Hwang S
• Park KM
• Lee YJ
• Han DJ
• Lee SG

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It is difficult to determine preoperatively whether nonfunctioning islet cell tumors (NFICTs) are malignant or benign. The purposes of this study were to evaluate clinical characteristics and to differentiate benign from malignant behavior of NFICTs. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 21 patients with NFICTs between 1990 and 2002. RESULTS: Mean age was 51.4+/-13.2 years and female was predominant. Tumor size ranged from 0.5 to 13 cm (average 3.3+/-1.8 cm). Thirteen patients had variable symptoms. Histologically, 14 tumors were malignant and 7 were benign. In 9 out of 13 patients, pancreatogram showed narrowing of the main pancreatic duct, which was more frequently detected in patients with malignant NFICTs than in patients with benign ones (p<0.01). Surgical resection was performed in 20 patients. All patients with benign NFICTs are still alive after surgery, while 3 out of 14 patients with malignant NFICTs died 11, 22, 30 months after operation or diagnosis, respectively. The follow up time ranged from 1 to 111 months (mean 32.6 months) CONCLUSIONS: The presenting symptoms of patients with NFICTs were non-specific. The malignancy rate of NFICTs was high. Narrowing of the main pancreatic duct on pancreatogram suggested the malignancy.

Keyword

Pancreas; Adenoma; islet cell; Neuroendocrine tumors

MeSH Terms

Adenoma, Islet Cell/*diagnosis
Adult
Aged
Carcinoma, Islet Cell/*diagnosis
Diagnosis, Differential
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pancreatic Neoplasms/*diagnosis