Abstract

SOSA VALENCIA, Leonardo et al. La ecoendoscopia en la detección de los tumores neuroendocrinos pancreáticos: Nuestra experiencia. Gen [online]. 2007, vol.61, n.3, pp.192-195. ISSN 0016-3503.

Introduction: Neuroendocrine Tumors constitute a heterogeneous group of neoplasias that originate from a population of cells with a neuroendocrine phenotype as a common precursor. These tumors are rare, have a prevalence of 1/100.000. Ecoendoscopy is an ideal method for the location and staging of neuroendocrine tumors in the gastrointestinal tract. Objective: To gain knowledge through our experience, in the use of ecoendoscopy in the detection of neuroendocrine tumors and its possible influence in treatment strategies. Patients and methods: This is a retrospective study made between January 1999 and December 2005 in patients who had a superior ecoendoscopy performed in that period. We evaluated: age, sex, and indication for the study; diagnosis of the ecoendoscopy, suggestions and follow up. Results: 27 patients presented the diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors, with ages between 9 and 80 years old, with an average of 46μ18 years, distributed in 56% male and 44% female. Altogether 52% of patients showed alterations in their laboratory tests. The size of the described NET is variable (p-value of Kolmogorov >0.05), with a percentage of 63% for the patients with tumors of 20 mm or more, and 37% for patients with tumors smaller than 20 mm. Patients with a precise diagnosis of insulinoma or gastrinoma were located at the head of the pancreas in 63% and 50% respectively. The NET more frequently found were insulinomas (8 cases, 30%), two fold the incidence of gastrinomas (15%). 12 cases (44%) were classified as NET without a defined origin since these patients presented a suggestive sonographic image of an endocrine lesion. Conclusions: Ecoendoscopy is a method that can be used in the evaluation of the pancreatic gland when the suspicion or the certainty of an endocrine tumor exists, allowing its location and description that will help us in taking an appropriate therapeutic decision.

Keywords : Neuroendocrine; Ecoendoscopy; Tumors; Pancreas.