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. 2008 Oct;19(10):1727-33.
doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdn351. Epub 2008 May 30.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs): incidence, prognosis and recent trend toward improved survival

T R Halfdanarson  1 , K G Rabe, J Rubin, G M Petersen
Affiliations

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs): incidence, prognosis and recent trend toward improved survival

T R Halfdanarson et al. Ann Oncol. 2008 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) are uncommon neoplasms that can present with symptoms of hormone overproduction. We evaluated the incidence, prognosis, and temporal trends of PNETs.

Patients and methods: We analyzed all cases of PNETs registered in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database from 1973 to 2000. Age-adjusted incidence and survival rates were calculated and survival trends over time were evaluated.

Results: We identified 1483 cases of PNETs. The crude annual incidence per 1,000,000 was 1.8 in females and 2.6 in males and increased with advancing age. The incidence increased over the study period. Most patients (90.8%) had nonfunctional tumors. Advanced stage, higher grade, and age were the strongest predictors of worse survival. Patients with functional tumors had better outcomes than patients with nonfunctional tumors in both univariate and multivariate analysis (P = 0.004). Survival time increased over the period from 1973 to 2000. No differences were seen in the distribution of stage or age at diagnosis among time periods.

Conclusion: PNETs are uncommon neoplasms but the incidence may be increasing. Age, grade, stage, and functional status predict survival in patients with PNETs. Survival has improved over time, but this is not explained by earlier diagnosis or stage migration.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Overall survival (OS) of patients with PETs according to functional status based upon nine SEER sites 1973–2000.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Overall survival (OS) of patients with PETs according to the year of diagnosis based upon nine SEER sites 1973–2000.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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