Neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas: what it is and how to recognize it

Neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas is a rare neoplasm that forms in endocrine tissues. Let’s find out the symptoms and possible treatments.

In the last few hours there has been a lot of talk about neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas due to the news regarding the surgery undergone by Fedez in March 2022. It is in fact a little known disease as it is very rare and often difficult to recognize. Belonging to the net of the pancreas, or neuroendocrine tumors, this carcinoma is therefore very delicate to treat.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor: symptoms

The symptoms of this type of cancer depend mainly on the type of hormones in progress and on the activity of the tumor.

There are in fact situations in which the tumor is said not to work. In this case, no hormones are put into circulation and can therefore be asymptomatic. In the case of a functioning tumor, however, there is a secretion of hormones that can lead to different symptoms such as diarrhea, burning or hypoglycemia. The type of symptom will therefore depend on the hormone secreted by the cells.

Diagnosis is usually made by studying any symptoms and through some tests such as magnetic resonance, CT or PET-CT (tomography with positron emission capable of also giving a staging).

Treatment and survival data in neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer

For neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer, survival for most surgically treated patients is quite good and decreases for cases with more advanced disease or metastasis. The disease can in fact be treated with different approaches such as tumor removal, hormone injections and chemotherapy . There are also classifications that indicate the severity of the tumor. G3 neuroendocrine carcinoma, for example, is the most severe.

In summary, therefore, it is a serious disease that can be discovered through symptoms or in a completely random way and which, depending on the situation in which it is found at the time of diagnosis , can be treated in various ways. The most decisive is obviously the surgery which often also includes the removal of the pancreas. Later, of course, you will need to keep your health under control by undergoing periodic checks, exactly as it happens after pancreatic cancer or other organs.