Surgical treatment of pancreatic endocrine tumors in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1

Surgical approaches to pancreatic endocrine tumors associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 may differ greatly from those applied to sporadic pancreatic endocrine tumors. Presurgical diagnosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 is therefore crucial to plan a proper intervention. Of note, hyperparathyroidism/multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 should be surgically treated before pancreatic endocrine tumors/multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 resection, apart from insulinoma. Non-functioning pancreatic endocrine tumors/multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 >1 cm have a high risk of malignancy and should be treated by a pancreatic resection associated with lymphadenectomy. The vast majority of patients with gastrinoma/multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 present with tumor lesions at the duodenum, so the surgery of choice is subtotal or total pancreatoduodenectomy followed by regional lymphadenectomy. The usual surgical treatment for insulinoma/multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 is distal pancreatectomy up to the mesenteric vein with or without spleen preservation, associated with enucleation of tumor lesions in the pancreatic head. Surgical procedures for glucagonomas, somatostatinomas, and vipomas/ multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 are similar to those applied to sporadic pancreatic endocrine tumors. Some of these surgical strategies for pancreatic endocrine tumors/multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 still remain controversial as to their proper extension and timing. Furthermore, surgical resection of single hepatic metastasis secondary to pancreatic endocrine tumors/multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 may be curative and even in multiple liver metastases surgical resection is possible. Hepatic trans-arterial chemo-embolization is usually associated with surgical resection. Liver transplantation may be needed for select cases. Finally, pre-surgical clinical and genetic diagnosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 syndrome and localization of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1related tumors are crucial for determining the best surgical strategies in each individual case with pancreatic endocrine tumors.

Neoplasia endocrina múltiple tipo 1 / Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (NEM1) is an uncommon autosomal dominant disease caused by an alteration of menin, a tumor suppression protein and is characterized by the presence of primary tumors in at least two different endocrine tissues. It is described as the “three P disease”since it involves mainly the pituitary, parathyroid and pancreas. However more than 20 different tumor locations have been described. Most tumors are benign and primary hyperparathyroidism is the first manifestation of the disease in 90 percent of cases enteropancreatic tumors appear in approximately 60 percent of patients and pituitary adenomas, usually prolactinomas, in 30 percent. Skin lesions, non functional adrenal adenomas and neuroendocrine tumors such as carcinoid are also part of the disease. We describe the pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of NEM1.

Surgical Experiences of Functioning Neuroendocrine Neoplasm of the Pancreas

We present our surgical experiences with functioning neuroendocrine neoplasms of the pancreas to define its natural history, and to suggest its proper management. From June 1990 to June 2005, patients with diagnosis of functioning neuroendocrine (islet cell) neoplasms of the pancreas were retrospectively reviewed. Fourteen patients (5 men and 9 women) with a median age of 49 years (range, 12 - 68 years) were identified. Twelve patients (86%) had insulinoma, two (14%) had gastrinoma. One (7%) with pancreatic insulinoma was multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. Intraoperative ultrasound scan (sensitivity, 83%) was the most powerful modality for tumor localization. Fifteen neoplasms with median tumor size 1 cm (range 0-3 cm) were resected. Four insulinomas (26.7%) were located in the head of the pancreas and 5 (36%), in the tail. Another 5 (36%) insulinomas and 1 (7%) gastrinoma were located around the neck area near the SMV or PV. Eleven patients (79%) underwent enucleation, and 2 patients (14%), distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy. 100% of patients with functioning neuroendocrine neoplasms of the pancreas have survived. The overall disease free 10-year survival was found to be about 81%. Exact localization of tumor by intraoperative ultrasound and surgical removal are promising for good prognosis.

Surgical Experiences of Functioning Neuroendocrine Neoplasm of the Pancreas

We present our surgical experiences with functioning neuroendocrine neoplasms of the pancreas to define its natural history, and to suggest its proper management. From June 1990 to June 2005, patients with diagnosis of functioning neuroendocrine (islet cell) neoplasms of the pancreas were retrospectively reviewed. Fourteen patients (5 men and 9 women) with a median age of 49 years (range, 12 - 68 years) were identified. Twelve patients (86%) had insulinoma, two (14%) had gastrinoma. One (7%) with pancreatic insulinoma was multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. Intraoperative ultrasound scan (sensitivity, 83%) was the most powerful modality for tumor localization. Fifteen neoplasms with median tumor size 1 cm (range 0-3 cm) were resected. Four insulinomas (26.7%) were located in the head of the pancreas and 5 (36%), in the tail. Another 5 (36%) insulinomas and 1 (7%) gastrinoma were located around the neck area near the SMV or PV. Eleven patients (79%) underwent enucleation, and 2 patients (14%), distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy. 100% of patients with functioning neuroendocrine neoplasms of the pancreas have survived. The overall disease free 10-year survival was found to be about 81%. Exact localization of tumor by intraoperative ultrasound and surgical removal are promising for good prognosis.

Primary lymph node gastrinoma in jejunal mesentery.

Primary gastrinomas have been reported in lymph nodes within the gastrinoma triangle. We report a 56-year-old woman with possible primary lymph node gastrinoma in the jejunal mesentery. Six months after excision of the tumor, she is asymptomatic and serum gastrin level is normal.

Síndrome de Zöllinger-Ellison / Zöllinger-Ellison's syndrome

Se presenta un caso de síndrome de Zöllinger-Ellison careacterizado por alta agresividad de la enfermedad ulcerosa péptica, marcada tendencia a la producción de fístulas, escasa respuesta a los bloqueadores H2 y difícil manejo quirúrgico. Se efectúa un análisis crítico del caso clínico y su manejo médico-quirúrgico a la luz de la información que existe actualmente sobre esta entidad

Gastrinoma solitário gigante do pâncreas / Giant solitary gastrinoma of the pancreas

Os autores apresentam um caso de gastrinoma solitário gigante do pâncreas. Uma mulher de 29 anos queixando-se de dor no andar superior do abdome e perda de peso há 6 meses, notou tumor abdominal 4 meses mais tarde. Na cirurgia foi identificado tumor no corpo do pâncreas com aproximadamente 20 cm de diâmetro, sendo totalmente retirado. Foi realizada uma pancreatectomia parcial com preservaçäo da cauda do páncreas, sendo o ducto de Wirsung ligado na cabeça do pâncreas. Näo se encontraram metástases abdominais. O trânsito gastrointestinal foi restabelecido com uma anastomose pancreato-jejunal término-lateral em Y-de-Roux. O diagnóstico final foi confirmado por pesquisa imuno-histoquímica (imunoperoxidase). O seguimento pós-operatório foi realizado até o 40§ mes de pós-operatorio e o nível sérico de gastrina após a cirurgia era de 120 pg/ml, porém no momento está normal. Os autores, baseados nestes dados, concluem tratar-se de um gastrinoma benigno gigante solitário do páncreas