Watchful waiting for small non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours: nationwide prospective cohort study (PANDORA)

Br J Surg. 2021 Aug 19;108(8):888-891. doi: 10.1093/bjs/znab088.

Abstract

This prospective nationwide cohort study examined the feasibility of a watchful-waiting protocol for non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (NF-pNET) of 2 cm or smaller. In total, 8 of 76 patients (11 per cent) with a NF-pNET no larger than 2 cm showed significant tumour progression (more than 0.5 cm/year) during 17 months of follow-up, of whom two opted for resection. No patient developed metastases. Quality of life was poorer than in the reference population. Watchful waiting seems a safe alternative to upfront surgery in patients with a NF-pNET no larger than 2 cm, although longer follow-up is necessary.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Neoplasm Staging / methods*
  • Netherlands / epidemiology
  • Pancreatectomy / methods*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / therapy
  • Prognosis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Time Factors
  • Watchful Waiting / statistics & numerical data*