Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Report of nine cases

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Tumors of the endocrine pancreas are infrequent, and their malignant behavior is assessed only in the presence of lymph node or hepatic metastases. We present 9 new cases from the past 11 years. METHODOLOGY: We reviewed the clinical records of 9 patients diagnosed of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, analyzing age, sex, past medical history, symptoms, clinical presentation, laboratory tests, imaging studies, operative findings, pathological diagnosis, mortality, morbidity and hospital stay. RESULTS: There were 5 women and 4 men, with a mean age of 48.7 years. In 4 patients the tumor presented with hypoglycemia. Malignant behavior was observed in 2 cases. We discuss the origin and classification of these tumors, as well as the best diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. CONCLUSIONS: Endocrine tumors of the pancreas affect middle aged men and women, presenting with specific signs or symptoms in less than half of the cases. In small tumors preoperative or intraoperative localization may be difficult. Most of the lesions are localized in the tail of the pancreas, and malignant behavior is seen in less than 25% of the cases.