pancreatic NET
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August 9, 2019
Neuroendocrine Neoplasms of the Pancreas Bookmark
George Lundberg, MDCurated by Editor in Chief George Lundberg, MD:
The pancreas is made up of three main cellular components: glands, ducts, and hormone-producing cells, some of which are known as neuroendocrine cells. All can develop malignant tumors, with very different characteristics.
To learn more about pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, which begin in neuroendocrine cells in the pancreas, check out this comprehensive, authoritative, detailed, up-to-date, unbiased overview from Medscape. (Free registration may be required to view the content.)
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August 24, 2015
Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Lesser Threat than Adenocarcinomas, but Still Hard to Treat
Emma Shtivelman, PhDPancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) constitute only about 3% to 5% of all pancreatic cancers. Compared to the most common pancreatic cancer—adenocarcinoma (aka exocrine tumors), PNETs have a longer disease course and better prognosis; the 5-year survival rate is 42% for PNETs, but only about 5% to 6% for adenocarcinomas. When PNETs are localized, they can usually be removed by surgery. However, PNETs tend to metastasize, most often to the liver, and present a formidable treatment challenge at this stage.