open access

Vol 63, No 1 (2012)
Case report
Submitted: 2013-02-15
Published online: 2012-02-29
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A non-functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour: a case report

Violetta Rosiek, Jolanta Kunikowska, Beata Kos-Kudła
Endokrynol Pol 2012;63(1):59-64.

open access

Vol 63, No 1 (2012)
Case report
Submitted: 2013-02-15
Published online: 2012-02-29

Abstract

We present the diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties encountered in a patient with a clinically advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour. The report concerns a 60-year-old female patient with the diagnosis of non-functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour (NET G1) with liver, peripancreatic lymph node and mediastinal metastases. Due to the presence of advanced disease (inoperable pancreatic tumour, presence of multiple metastases) the patient was considered ineligible for surgical treatment on two occasions. Tissue samples for histopathology were collected during an exploratory laparotomy, which made it possible to establish the diagnosis. As somatostatin receptor scintigraphy was positive, the patient was started on somatostatin analogues and radionuclide therapy was initiated, resulting in satisfactory response in the form of complete remission of liver metastases and the decreased size of the primary tumour in the pancreas. The use of somatostatin analogues in the case of an inoperable neuroendocrine tumour which was assessed as clinically advanced, yet possessing a low proliferative potential, is a promising therapeutic option.

Abstract

We present the diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties encountered in a patient with a clinically advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour. The report concerns a 60-year-old female patient with the diagnosis of non-functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour (NET G1) with liver, peripancreatic lymph node and mediastinal metastases. Due to the presence of advanced disease (inoperable pancreatic tumour, presence of multiple metastases) the patient was considered ineligible for surgical treatment on two occasions. Tissue samples for histopathology were collected during an exploratory laparotomy, which made it possible to establish the diagnosis. As somatostatin receptor scintigraphy was positive, the patient was started on somatostatin analogues and radionuclide therapy was initiated, resulting in satisfactory response in the form of complete remission of liver metastases and the decreased size of the primary tumour in the pancreas. The use of somatostatin analogues in the case of an inoperable neuroendocrine tumour which was assessed as clinically advanced, yet possessing a low proliferative potential, is a promising therapeutic option.
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Keywords

pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour; somatostatin analogue; radionuclide therapy

About this article
Title

A non-functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour: a case report

Journal

Endokrynologia Polska

Issue

Vol 63, No 1 (2012)

Article type

Case report

Pages

59-64

Published online

2012-02-29

Page views

635

Article views/downloads

1932

Bibliographic record

Endokrynol Pol 2012;63(1):59-64.

Keywords

pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour
somatostatin analogue
radionuclide therapy

Authors

Violetta Rosiek
Jolanta Kunikowska
Beata Kos-Kudła

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