ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The optimal surgical management of nonfunctional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NF-PNETs) is still controversial. Here, we evaluated the impact of lymph node status on postoperative recurrence in patients with NF-PNET and the potential of preoperative variables for predicting lymph node metastasis (LNM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this mono-institutional retrospective cohort study conducted in 100 consecutive patients who underwent NF-PNET resection between January 2004 and December 2014, we evaluated risk factors for survival using the Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox regression model. Predictors of LNM were evaluated using the logistic regression model, and the power of predictive models was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Five-year disease-free survival of resected NF-PNET was 64.1%. LNM was independently associated with postoperative recurrence (hazard ratio = 3.995, P = 0.003). Multivariate analysis revealed tumor grade as an independent factor associated with LNM (G2 vs. G1: odds ratio [OR] =6.287, P = 0.008; G3 vs. G1: OR = 12.407, P = 0.001). When tumor grade was excluded, radiological tumor diameter >2.5 cm (OR = 5.430, P = 0.013) and presence of symptoms (OR = 3.366, P = 0.039) were significantly associated with LNM. Compared to neoplasms with radiological diameter >2.5 cm (32.1%), tumors ≤2.5 cm had an obviously lower risk of LNM (7.7%), indicating the reliability of this parameter in predicting LNM (area under the curve, 0.693). Incidentally discovered NF-PNETs ≤2.5 cm were associated with a low-risk of LNM and excellent survival.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>LNM is significantly associated with postoperative recurrence. Radiological tumor diameter is a reliable predictor of LNM in NF-PNETs. Our results indicate that lymphadenectomy in small (≤2.5 cm) NF-PNETs is not routinely necessary.</p>
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Disease-Free Survival , Kaplan-Meier Estimate , Logistic Models , Lymph Node Excision , Lymphatic Metastasis , Pathology , Multivariate Analysis , Pancreatic Neoplasms , Pathology , General Surgery , Proportional Hazards Models , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Recently a great number of new immunodepressants have emerged due to the side effects of steroids.Therefore,relatively more perfect steroid withdrawl regimens have been studied by many researchers at home and abroad.This article reviews the course of steroid withdrawal in liver transplantation,introduces and compares different protocols of steroid withdrawal.