PANCREATIC NEUROENDOCRINE TUMORS: CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS AND POSTOPERATIVE SURVIVAL FOLLOWING SURGICAL RESECTION-A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE AT A TERTIARY UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) are rare neoplasms of the digestive system, with variable prognoses and biological behaviors. Surgical resection remains the mainstay of treatment. Objective: To evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics and surgical outcomes of patients with PNETs who underwent resection at the Hospital de Clínicas, UNICAMP. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study including 24 patients who underwent surgical resection between 2013 and 2023. Clinical, demographic, histopathological, and survival data were analyzed. The primary outcome was overall survival. Results: The mean age was 53.9 ± 14.4 years, with a predominance of female patients (66.7%). Most tumors were nonfunctioning (79.1%), with abdominal pain (79.2%) and weight loss (50%) being the most common symptoms. The surgical procedures performed were distal pancreatectomy (54.2%), pancreaticoduodenectomy (41.6%), and enucleation (4.2%). Histological classification revealed 62.5% grade 2 tumors, 33.3% grade 1, and 4.2% MiNEN. Mean overall survival was 70.4 ± 58 months. There was a trend toward longer survival in grade 1 tumors (98 ± 68.1 months) compared to grade 2 (59.1 ± 49.5 months; P=0.06). Postoperative mortality was 8.3%, associated with pancreaticoduodenectomy. Conclusion: Histological grading remains a key prognostic factor in PNETs. Surgical resection remains the cornerstone of treatment. Multicenter studies are necessary to validate these findings on a larger scale.