BACKGROUND: Glucagonomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas. Because of its rarity, its natural history is not well understood. AIM: We evaluated the natural history of glucagonomas treated at a tertiary care cancer center. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 12 patients during 1970 to 2000 was performed. Six patients (50%) had a tumor located in the head of the pancreas. RESULTS: Abdominal pain (83%) and weight loss (75%) were the most common symptoms. Median tumor size was 6 cm (range 0.04-10). Seven patients (58%) had liver metastases. Five patients (42%) underwent curative resection. Overall median survival was 66 mo, and 5-yr overall survival was 66%. Five-yr overall survival was 83% for patients who had resection versus 50% for the non-resected patients (p = 0.04). Patients who were disease-free had a complete resection of the primary tumor and no liver involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Glucagonomas generally present with liver metastases at the time of diagnosis. Cure is only possible if the disease is localized and completely resected.
BACKGROUND:Glucagonomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas. Because of its rarity, its natural history is not well understood. AIM: We evaluated the natural history of glucagonomas treated at a tertiary care cancer center. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 12 patients during 1970 to 2000 was performed. Six patients (50%) had a tumor located in the head of the pancreas. RESULTS:Abdominal pain (83%) and weight loss (75%) were the most common symptoms. Median tumor size was 6 cm (range 0.04-10). Seven patients (58%) had liver metastases. Five patients (42%) underwent curative resection. Overall median survival was 66 mo, and 5-yr overall survival was 66%. Five-yr overall survival was 83% for patients who had resection versus 50% for the non-resected patients (p = 0.04). Patients who were disease-free had a complete resection of the primary tumor and no liver involvement. CONCLUSIONS:Glucagonomas generally present with liver metastases at the time of diagnosis. Cure is only possible if the disease is localized and completely resected.
Authors: Giuseppe Corrias; Natally Horvat; Serena Monti; Olca Basturk; Oscar Lin; Luca Saba; Lisa Bodei; Diane L Reidy; Lorenzo Mannelli Journal: Medicine (Baltimore) Date: 2017-12 Impact factor: 1.817