Abstract
Study objective : We retrospectively studied the relations between the findings of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) in our hospital.
Patients and Methods : We studied 79 lesions in 78 patients with pancreatic NETs diagnosed at Kitasato University Hospital. EUS findings (1. tumor form, 2. tumor margin, 3. internal echo, 4. echogenicity, 5. cystic changes, 6. tumor size) were contrasted with the WHO classification and retrospectively studied on the basis of the patients’ case report forms.
Results : The results of EUS were as follows : 1. Tumor form round/nodular : 68/11, 2. Tumor margin regular/irregular : 60/19, 3. Internal echo homogeneous/heterogeneous : 49/30, 4. Echogenicity hypoechoic/isoechoic : 58/21, 5. Cystic changes yes/no : 16/63, 6. Tumor size median : 20 mm (2-220 mm) . According to the 2010 WHO classification, grade 2 NETs and neuroendocrine carcinomas were significantly nodular (p<0.01) , more irregular (p<0.01) , more heterogeneous (p<0.01) , and larger (p<0.01) than grade 1 NETs.
Conclusions : Our findings showed that EUS findings are useful for differentiating grade 1 NETs from grade 2 NETs and neuroendocrine carcinomas.
