Cephalic Pancreatoduodenectomy due to Neuroendocrine Tumor of Pancreatic Head

Abstract

Introduction: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are a heterogeneous group of infrequent neoplasms, with a prevalence of less than 1 to 4 per million population. Insulinomas, gastrinomas and nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are the most frequent, with an incidence of 1 to 3 new cases per million population.

Objective: To describe the diagnostic system and approach in case of a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreatic head, due to the infrequency of this tumor.

Case presentation: The case is presented of a 52-year-old patient who came to the Instituto Nacional de Oncología y Radiobiología, referred from secondary care for a diagnosis of pancreatic tumor after having been studied for weight loss and chronic diarrhea of one year of evolution. Extension studies were performed, as well as cephalic pancreatoduodenectomy or Whipple technique as surgical treatment, with good recovery and resolution of the initial symptomatology.

Conclusions: Neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas are rare, and their symptomatology is usually vague or absent. The presented patient had a similar evolution to that described in the reviewed literature, in terms of clinical characteristics and diagnostic studies. The used treatment was cephalic pancreatoduodenectomy or Whipple technique with curative intent, without complications and rapid recovery.