Retrospective study of risk factors for recurrence among patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms

The prognosis and impact of various prognostic factors in pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNEN) remain controversial. A retrospective analysis in Denmark found that among patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms, after observation for small tumors (≤ 2cm) growth requiring surgery was seen in only 1 of 51 patients. Among patients who underwent surgery, tumor size, Ki-67 index, and location in the head of the pancreas were prognostic for disease recurrence, while age, plasma chromogranin A, and proliferation predicted mortality in patients with unresectable disease or residual tumor after resection.