The role of surgery in the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

Primary hepatic gastrinoma being diagnosed preoperatively: a case report and literature review

Background

A majority of gastrinomas causing Zollinger–Ellison syndrome are located in the duodenum or pancreas. Primary hepatic gastrinomas are rare and difficult to diagnose. We report a rare case of primary hepatic gastrinoma, which could be diagnosed preoperatively.

Case presentation

A 29-year-old man with a 55-mm tumor in segments 5 and 6 (S 5/6) of the liver was admitted to our hospital. After thorough investigations, he was treated for a suspected inflammatory pseudotumor and advised to undergo routine follow-up. Two years later, he revisited our hospital with a complaint of abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed multiple duodenal ulcers. His serum gastrin level was 2350 pg/mL (normal: 37–172 pg/mL), suggesting Zollinger–Ellison syndrome. Abdominal computed tomography showed a 78-mm hypervascular tumor with cystic degeneration in the S 5/6 region of the liver, with a potential to increase over time. The tumor showed hypointensity on T2-weighted and hyperintensity on diffusion-weighted abdominal contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) only detected a hepatic tumor. No tumors in the gastrinoma triangle were detected by endoscopic ultrasonography. Hence, selective arterial calcium injection (SACI) test was performed to determine the location of the gastrinoma. The serum gastrin concentration increased from 4620 pg/mL to 23,600 pg/mL at 20 s after calcium gluconate injection into the proper hepatic artery. Conversely, no effect on serum gastrin level was observed after the injection into any other arteries. Extended right hepatic lobectomy and cholecystectomy were performed after percutaneous transhepatic portal vein embolization. A histopathological examination of the liver tumor revealed a gastrinoma. The patient’s serum gastrin concentration on postoperative day 1 decreased to 65 pg/mL.

Conclusion

We report a surgical case of primary hepatic gastrinoma correctly diagnosed preoperatively. The patient underwent extended right hepatic lobectomy, resulting in a histological definitive diagnosis of primary hepatic gastrinoma.

[Duodenal neuroendocrine tumors]

Significant augmentation of the incidence of duodenal neuroendocrine tumors duodenum has been observed in recent decades. There are 5 histological types of these tumors: gastrinoma (50-60%), somatostatin-producing tumor (15%), inactive serotonin-containing tumors (20%), poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (<3%) and gangliocytic paraganglioma (<2%). The majority of tumors are localized within the bulb and postbulbar part of duodenum, 20% are found in periampular area. Treatment strategy depends on dimensions, localization, histological class, stage and type of tumor. It is believed that endoscopic resection is permissible for small inactive tumors (G1) located above major duodenal papilla. The majority of other neoplasms requires surgical resection. Personal experience of various surgeons is limited by small group of patients. Therefore, it is necessary to summarize results for selection of optimal treatment.

Management of gastric and duodenal neuroendocrine tumors

Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors (GI-NETs) are rare neoplasms, like all NETs. However, the incidence of GI-NETS has been increasing in recent years. Gastric NETs (G-NETs) and duodenal NETs (D-NETs) are the common types of upper GI-NETs based on tumor location. G-NETs are classified into three distinct subgroups: type I, II, and III. Type I G-NETs, which are the most common subtype (70%-80% of all G-NETs), are associated with chronic atrophic gastritis, including autoimmune gastritis and Helicobacter pylori associated atrophic gastritis. Type II G-NETs (5%-6%) are associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (MEN1-ZES). Both type I and II G-NETs are related to hypergastrinemia, are small in size, occur in multiple numbers, and are generally benign. In contrast, type III G-NETs (10%-15%) are not associated with hypergastrinemia, are large-sized single tumors, and are usually malignant. Therefore, surgical resection and chemotherapy are generally necessary for type III G-NETs, while endoscopic resection and follow-up, which are acceptable for the treatment of most type I and II G-NETs, are only acceptable for small and well differentiated type III G-NETs. D-NETs include gastrinomas (50%-60%), somatostatin-producing tumors (15%), nonfunctional serotonin-containing tumors (20%), poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (< 3%), and gangliocytic paragangliomas (< 2%). Most D-NETs are located in the first or second part of the duodenum, with 20% occurring in the periampullary region. Therapy for D-NETs is based on tumor size, location, histological grade, stage, and tumor type. While endoscopic resection may be considered for small nonfunctional D-NETs (G1) located in the higher papilla region, surgical resection is necessary for most other D-NETs. However, there is no consensus regarding the ideal treatment of D-NETs.

Causes of death and prognostic factors in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1: a prospective study: comparison of 106 MEN1/Zollinger-Ellison syndrome patients with 1613 literature MEN1 patients with or without pancreatic endocrine tumors

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is classically characterized by the development of functional or nonfunctional hyperplasia or tumors in endocrine tissues (parathyroid, pancreas, pituitary, adrenal). Because effective treatments have been developed for the hormone excess state, which was a major cause of death in these patients in the past, coupled with the recognition that nonendocrine tumors increasingly develop late in the disease course, the natural history of the disease has changed. An understanding of the current causes of death is important to tailor treatment for these patients and to help identify prognostic factors; however, it is generally lacking.To add to our understanding, we conducted a detailed analysis of the causes of death and prognostic factors from a prospective long-term National Institutes of Health (NIH) study of 106 MEN1 patients with pancreatic endocrine tumors with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (MEN1/ZES patients) and compared our results to those from the pooled literature data of 227 patients with MEN1 with pancreatic endocrine tumors (MEN1/PET patients) reported in case reports or small series, and to 1386 patients reported in large MEN1 literature series. In the NIH series over a mean follow-up of 24.5 years, 24 (23%) patients died (14 MEN1-related and 10 non-MEN1-related deaths). Comparing the causes of death with the results from the 227 patients in the pooled literature series, we found that no patients died of acute complications due to acid hypersecretion, and 8%-14% died of other hormone excess causes, which is similar to the results in 10 large MEN1 literature series published since 1995. In the 2 series (the NIH and pooled literature series), two-thirds of patients died from an MEN1-related cause and one-third from a non-MEN1-related cause, which agrees with the mean values reported in 10 large MEN1 series in the literature, although in the literature the causes of death varied widely. In the NIH and pooled literature series, the main causes of MEN1-related deaths were due to the malignant nature of the PETs, followed by the malignant nature of thymic carcinoid tumors. These results differ from the results of a number of the literature series, especially those reported before the 1990s. The causes of non-MEN1-related death for the 2 series, in decreasing frequency, were cardiovascular disease, other nonendocrine tumors > lung diseases, cerebrovascular diseases. The most frequent non-MEN1-related tumor deaths were colorectal, renal > lung > breast, oropharyngeal. Although both overall and disease-related survival are better than in the past (30-yr survival of NIH series: 82% overall, 88% disease-related), the mean age at death was 55 years, which is younger than expected for the general population.Detailed analysis of causes of death correlated with clinical, laboratory, and tumor characteristics of patients in the 2 series allowed identification of a number of prognostic factors. Poor prognostic factors included higher fasting gastrin levels, presence of other functional hormonal syndromes, need for >3 parathyroidectomies, presence of liver metastases or distant metastases, aggressive PET growth, large PETs, or the development of new lesions.The results of this study have helped define the causes of death of MEN1 patients at present, and have enabled us to identify a number of prognostic factors that should be helpful in tailoring treatment for these patients for both short- and long-term management, as well as in directing research efforts to better define the natural history of the disease and the most important factors determining long-term survival at present.

Importance of surveillance for multiple endocrine neoplasia-1 and surgery in patients with sporadic Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) is a rare disorder characterized by gastrin-secreting tumors of the gastrointestinal tract and gastric acid hypersecretion. There is controversy over the best way to manage these patients; we investigated outcomes of patients with different forms of the disease, who did and did not undergo surgery.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with ZES associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN-1) (n = 16) and those with sporadic ZES (n = 33) seen at a tertiary care center from August 1994 to January 2012. Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to compare survival times among groups, based on treatment with surgery (n = 34) and the presence of MEN-1 (n = 9 with surgery; n = 7 without surgery). Differences were compared using the unpaired Student t test and the Fisher exact test.

RESULTS

Patients with MEN-1 syndrome-associated ZES presented at a younger age than patients with sporadic ZES (34.9 vs 45.7 y, respectively; P < .05) and were diagnosed at a younger age (39.3 vs 49.7 y, respectively; P < .01), yet lived a similar number of years (55.9 vs 55.1 y, respectively; P = .91). None of the patients with MEN-1-associated ZES died of progressive disease, compared with 86% of deaths among patients with sporadic ZES (P < .05). Lymph node involvement, detected during surgery, increased the risk of metastasis to liver (P = .13) and lack of cure by surgery (P = .01). Surgery reduced all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 0.11; 95% confidence interval, 0.2-0.6; P = .011) and disease-related mortality (hazard ratio, 0.14; 95% confidence interval, 0.2-0.84; P = .032) of patients with sporadic, but not MEN-1 syndrome-associated, ZES.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of MEN-1 is associated with earlier onset and diagnosis of ZES, but a benign clinical course that rarely results in disease-related death; surgery therefore can be deferred for these patients. However, 86% of deaths among patients with sporadic ZES are attributed to disease-related causes, and mortality is reduced by early surgical intervention. Patients with sporadic ZES should undergo surgery soon after diagnosis.

Primary hepatic gastrinoma presenting as vague gastrointestinal symptoms

A 51-year-old Caucasian female with a 7-year history of intermittent abdominal pain and diarrhoea presented to our service. Before presentation, she had been successfully treated for Helicobacter pylori infection, but later developed new oesophageal ulcerations with exudative lesions that were positive for herpes simplex virus, and candida oesophagitis had developed. Biopsies showed chronic inactive gastritis with gastric intestinal metaplasia. MRI revealed a solid 3.4×3 cm lesion in the caudate lobe of the liver, with a 7-mm pancreatic cyst. The aspirated pancreatic cyst cytology was benign. On exploratory laporatomy, the lesion appeared confined to the caudate lobe, and a resection was performed. The pathology was consistent with a well-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma with vascular invasion and involvement of the liver capsule, although resection margins were negative. The patient had complete symptomatic improvement. This case re-affirms the high index of suspicion needed to make the diagnosis of gastrinoma. If caught in time, surgical removal of primary hepatic gastrinoma can be curative.

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome associated with a history of alcohol abuse: coincidence or consequence?

BACKGROUND

This 47-year observational study suggests that sporadic Zollinger-Ellison (Z-E) syndrome, particularly duodenal wall gastrinomas (DWG), is associated with a history of alcohol abuse.

METHODS

Thirty-nine consecutive Z-E patients were followed from 1962 through 2010. The drinking patterns of these patients were assessed and compared with 3,786 community controls.

RESULTS

Thirty-five patients had extrapancreatic gastrinomas (34 DWG and/or paraduodenal lymph nodes, 1 antral gastrinoma). Total gastrectomy was done in 24; 9 underwent less extensive operations to remove DWG, and 2 patients had no operations. There were no deaths from tumor progression. Four patients presented with pancreatic gastrinoma (PG) and liver metastasis, all died from tumor progression. Alcohol abuse (>50 g/d) was documented in 81% of patients with DWG and/or paraduodenal lymph nodes. The drinking patterns (drinks per day) of DWG patients were significantly different: DWG vs community control-abstainers, 3% vs 24%; 1-2 drinks, 16% vs 62%; 3-5 drinks, 29% vs 12%; and ≥ 6 drinks, 52% vs 2.5% (P < .01).

CONCLUSION

Alcohol abuse is strongly associated with and may be a risk factor for sporadic Z-E with extrapancreatic DWG. Liver metastases and tumor deaths were not observed in this subgroup, supporting the concept that DWG and PG are different tumor entities.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrinomas in Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 (MEN-1)

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN-1) is a rare autosomal-dominant disease. It is associated with a broad range of endocrine tumours, most frequently arising in the parathyroid glands, the pituitary and the pancreas. Most neuroendocrine tumours will be diagnosed in the pancreas as non-functioning neuroendocrine tumours or insulinomas. Forty-two percent of the patients will develop a gastrin-secreting neuroendocrine tumour, a gastrinoma. Gastrinomas in MEN-1 tend to be small, multiple and preferentially located in the duodenum. This paper will focus on the specific characteristics of gastrinomas in the setting of MEN-1 compared to sporadic gastrinomas. The developments in understanding the tumorigenesis of these tumours and the consequences for diagnosis and therapy will be discussed.

Reoperative surgery for the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

It is clear that a properly performed initial operation is the key to success in the management of a patient with ZES. However, reoperation is frequently a consideration in the management of patients with ZES because high rates of persistent and recurrent disease are manifest even with modern imaging and surgical approaches. In carefully selected patients, reoperation can result in durable biochemical cure and improved survival and should be considered. A thorough knowledge of the natural history of the sporadic form of ZES and ZES in the context of MEN-1, patterns of presentation, and sites of metastases are necessary to achieve the best outcome in patients with this unusual disease.

Reoperative surgery in sporadic Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome: longterm results

BACKGROUND

Most patients with Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome (ZES), even those in whom gastrinoma is found and resected at initial operation, will suffer from persistent or recurrent disease in longterm followup. There is currently no consensus about managing patients with recurrent or persistent ZES. Our unit has historically maintained an aggressive approach toward monitoring and reoperation for patients with sporadic ZES.

STUDY DESIGN

We performed a review of a consecutive series of patients evaluated and managed at our institution between 1970 and 2007 for ZES. "Biochemical cure" was defined as normal serum gastrin assays and negative imaging studies. Reoperations were performed for elevations in serum gastrin assays and positive findings on imaging studies.

RESULTS

Fifty-two patients with sporadic ZES were analyzed. Median followup was 14 years. Among patients with sporadic ZES, 37 patients underwent operative management. The most common operations were resection of duodenal gastrinoma (n=8) and total gastrectomy (n=7). Nine patients underwent 15 reoperations for recurrent or persistent disease. "Biochemical cure" was obtained in four patients (44%) undergoing reoperation for ZES. Three of these patients remained without evidence of recurrence at 4, 9, and 12 years after their curative re-resection. Only one of nine patients who underwent reoperation died of metastatic gastrinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary and reoperative surgery in patients with sporadic ZES results in a significant rate of "biochemical cure." In selected patients with recurrent or persistent disease, reoperation for resection of gastrinoma is associated with excellent longterm survival and is warranted.

Treatment strategies for Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

BACKGROUND

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) is a rare disorder caused by tumor secretion of the hormone gastrin, which results in gastric acid hypersecretion and secondarily complicated peptic ulcer and diarrhea. Until the development of H(2)-receptor antagonists and later proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), the disease was virulent, often associated with ulcer-related mortality, and the mainstay of treatment was total gastrectomy.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate current approaches to diagnosis and therapy, focusing on the role of PPIs.

METHODS

An extensive literature search through PubMed using the search term 'Zollinger-Ellison syndrome' from 1964 to the present was performed. Primary articles were identified, and pertinent articles obtained from the reference lists were also examined.

RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS

The clinical manifestations of ZES are well described, but overlaps with other more common disorders delay diagnosis. The use of abdominal imaging with somatostatin receptor scintigraphy and endoscopic ultrasound has improved tumor staging. PPI therapy is remarkably effective in controlling gastric acid hypersecretion, thereby reducing morbidity and potential mortality of this syndrome. The dose of drug necessary to control symptoms is highly variable but, even when used in high doses for prolonged periods of time, the disease remained controlled with very few drug-related side effects.

Gastrinoma--morphological aspects

Gastrinomas are defined as gastrin producing tumors that are associated with an elevated fasting gastrin serum level, a positive gastrin secretin stimulation test and certain clinical symptoms, e.g. recurrent peptic ulcer disease and occasionally diarrhea, the so-called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Most gastrinomas occur in the duodenum (approx. 70%) and not in the pancreas. The duodenal gastrinomas are small, and when they occur in association with the genetic syndrome of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), they are multicentric and originate from precursor lesions. The prognosis of duodenal gastrinomas is better than that of pancreatic gastrinomas, since despite early lymph node metastasis they progress slowly to liver metastasis.

Site-specific biology and pathology of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

The gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) are composed of cells with a neuroendocrine phenotype. Well-differentiated tumors, well-differentiated carcinomas, poorly differentiated carcinomas, functioning tumors (with a hormonal syndrome), and nonfunctioning tumors are identified. To predict their clinical behavior, these neuroendocrine tumors are classified on the basis of their clinicopathological features, including size, local invasion, angioinvasion, proliferative activity, histological differentiation, and metastases, into neoplasms with benign, uncertain, low-grade malignant and high-grade malignant behavior. In addition, a tumor/nodes/metastases classification and a grading system are presented. In the light of these criteria, the various GEP-NET entities are reviewed.

Sporadic versus hereditary gastrinomas of the duodenum and pancreas: Distinct clinico-pathological and epidemiological features

Gastrinomas are defined as gastrin secreting tumors that are associated with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES). ZES is characterized by elevated fasting gastrin serum levels, positive secretin stimulation test and clinical symptoms such as recurrent peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease and occasional diarrhea. Genetically, nonhereditary (sporadic) gastrinomas are distinguished from hereditary gastrinomas, which are associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) syndrome. In general, duodenal gastrinomas are small and solitary if they are sporadic and multiple as well as hereditary. The sporadic gastrinomas occur in the duodenum or in the pancreas while the hereditary gastrinomas almost all occur in the duodenum. Our series of 77 sporadic duodenal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) includes 18 patients (23.4%) with gastrinomas and ZES. Of 535 sporadic NETs in the pancreas collected from the NET archives of the departments of pathology in Zürich, Switzerland, and Kiel, Germany, 24 patients (4.5%) suffered from sporadic pancreatic gastrinomas and ZES. These NETs have to be distinguished from tumors with immunohistochemical positivity for gastrin but without evidence of ZES. An additional 19 patients suffered from MEN1 and ZES. These patients showed exclusively duodenal gastrinomas, but not pancreatic gastrinomas. The prognosis of sporadic and MEN1-associated duodenal gastrinomas is better than that of pancreatic gastrinomas, since they progress slowly to liver metastasis. In summary, sporadic and MEN1-associated gastrinomas in the duodenum and pancreas show different clinico-pathological and genetic features. The incidence of sporadic duodenal gastrin-producing tumors is increasing, possibly due to optimized diagnostic procedures. In contrast, pancreatic MEN1-associated gastrinomas seem to be extremely rare. A considerable subset of tumors with immunohistochemical expression of gastrin but without evidence of ZES should be designated as functionally inactive NETs expressing gastrin, but not as gastrinomas.

Surgery increases survival in patients with gastrinoma

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the routine use of surgical exploration for gastrinoma resection/cure in 160 patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) altered survival compared with 35 ZES patients who did not undergo surgery.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

The role of routine surgical exploration for resection/cure in patients with ZES has been controversial since the original description of this disease in 1955. This controversy continues today, not only because medical therapy for acid hypersecretion is so effective, but also in large part because no studies have shown an effect of tumor resection on survival.

METHODS

Long-term follow-up of 160 ZES patients who underwent routine surgery for gastrinoma/resection/cure was compared with 35 patients who had similar disease but did not undergo surgery for a variety of reasons. All patients had preoperative CT, MRI, ultrasound; if unclear, angiography and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy since 1994 to determine resectability. At surgery, all had the same standard ZES operation. All patients were evaluated yearly with imaging studies and disease activity studies.

RESULTS

The 35 nonsurgical patients did not differ from the 160 operated in clinical, laboratory, or tumor imaging results. The 2 groups did not differ in follow-up time since initial evaluation (range, 11.8-12 years). At surgery, 94% had a tumor removed, 51% were cured immediately, and 41% at last follow-up. Significantly more unoperated patients developed liver metastases (29% vs. 5%, P = 0.0002), died of any cause (54 vs. 21%, P = 0.0002), or died a disease-related death (23 vs. 1%, P < 0.00001). Survival plots showed operated patients had a better disease-related survival (P = 0.0012); however, there was no difference in non-disease-related survival. Fifteen-year disease-related survival was 98% for operated and 74% for unoperated (P = 0.0002).

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that routine surgical exploration increases survival in patients with ZES by increasing disease-related survival and decreasing the development of advanced disease. Routine surgical exploration should be performed in ZES patients.

Surgery and prognosis of duodenal gastrinoma as a duodenal neuroendocrine tumor

It has become increasingly clear that duodenal gastrinomas are the most common cause of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES). However, attempts to find these tumors before and during surgery for ZES have had limited success until duodenotomy (opening the duodenum) was described. The routine use of duodenotomy in patients with non-familial gastrinoma increases the number of duodenal tumors found, and the immediate and long-term cure-rate. The increase in cure-rate appears to be secondary to increased detection of small, previously undetectable duodenal gastrinomas. Duodenotomy detects small tumors (<1 cm) in the proximal duodenum. It does not detect more duodenal gastrinomas per patient, nor does it detect tumors in unusual duodenal locations. Duodenotomy decreases the death-rate associated with these tumors. However, it has not affected the rate of development of liver metastases. Duodenotomy is a critical method to find duodenal gastrinomas. It should be routinely performed in all surgery to find and remove gastrinoma for cure of ZES.

Surgical treatment and prognosis of gastrinoma

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) is a clinical syndrome with severe peptic ulcer disease and diarrhea caused by gastric acid hypersecretion secondary to a neuroendocrine tumour that secretes excessive amounts of the hormone gastrin (gastrinoma). Gastrinomas occur in a familial and a sporadic form. Patients with gastrinoma in the familial setting of Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 1 (MEN-1) are seldom, if ever, cured of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome by the current non-Whipple operations to remove duodenal and pancreatic gastrinoma. Surgery is currently used in these patients to deal with the malignant nature of pancreatic or duodenal neuroendocrine tumours. Malignant potential is best determined by tumour size. Tumours that are greater than 2 cm in size should be excised. In the sporadic setting, cure occurs in a significant proportion of patients (50%) by surgical resection of gastrinoma. Duodenotomy has improved both the tumour detection rate and the cure rate and should be routinely done. Whipple pancreaticoduodenectomy results in the highest probability of cure in both sporadic and MEN-1 gastrinoma patients as it removes the entire gastrinoma triangle. However, the excellent long-term survival of these patients with lesser operations and the increased operative mortality and long-term morbidity of Whipple make its current role unclear until further studies are done.

Resolved and unresolved controversies in the surgical management of patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

OBJECTIVE

Highlight unresolved controversies in the management of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES).

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

Recent studies have resolved some of the previous controversies including the surgical cure rate in patients with and without Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia-type1 (MEN1), the biological behavior of duodenal and pancreatic gastrinomas, role of imaging studies to localize tumor, and gastrectomy to manage acid output.

METHODS

Review of the literature based on computer searches in Index Medicus, Pubmed and Ovid.

RESULTS

Current controversies as identified in the literature include the role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), surgery in ZES patients with MEN1, pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure), lymph node primary gastrinoma, parietal cell vagotomy, reoperation and surgery for metastatic tumor, and the use of minimally invasive surgical techniques to localize and remove gastrinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

It is hoped that future studies will focus on these issues to improve the surgical management of ZES patients.

Does the use of routine duodenotomy (DUODX) affect rate of cure, development of liver metastases, or survival in patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome?

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether routine use of duodenotomy (DUODX) alters cure rate, survival, or development of liver metastases in 143 patients (162 operations) with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) without MEN1.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

DUODX has been shown to increase the detection of duodenal gastrinomas, but it is unknown if it alters rate of cure, liver metastases, or survival. Data from our prospective studies of surgery in ZES allow us to address this issue because DUODX was not performed before 1987, whereas it was routinely done after 1987.

METHODS

All patients with sporadic ZES (non-MEN1) undergoing surgery for possible cure without a prior DUODX from November 1980 to June 2003 were included. Patients had preoperative computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or ultrasound; if unclear, angiography and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy since 1994. At surgery, all had the same standard ZES operation and were assessed immediately postoperatively, at 3 to 6 months, and yearly for cure (fasting gastrin, secretin test. and imaging studies).

RESULTS

A DUODX was performed in 79 patients (94 operations), and no DUODX was performed in 64 patients (68 operations), with 10 patients having both (no DUODX, then a DUODX later). Gastrinoma was found in 98% with DUODX compared with 76% with no DUODX (P < 0.00001). Duodenal gastrinomas were found more frequently with DUODX (62% vs. 18%; P < 0.00001), whereas pancreatic, lymph node, and other primary gastrinomas occurred similarly. Six of the 10 patients with 2 operations had a duodenal tumor found with DUODX during a second operation that was missed in the first operation without DUODX. Both the immediate postoperative cure rate (65% vs. 44%; P = 0.010) and long-term cure rate at last follow-up (8.8 +/- 0.4 years; range, 0.1 to 21.5) (52% vs. 26%; P = 0.0012) were significantly greater with a DUODX than without. In patients without pancreatic tumors or liver metastases at surgery, both the rate of developing liver metastases (6% vs. 9.5%) and the disease-related death rate (0% vs. 2%) were low and not significantly different in patients with or without a DUODX.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that routine use of DUODX increases the short-term and long-term cure rate due to the detection of more duodenal gastrinomas. The rate of development of hepatic metastases and/or disease-related mortality in patients without pancreatic tumors is low, and no effect of DUODX on these parameters was seen. Duodenotomy (DUODX) should be routinely performed during all operations for cure of sporadic ZES.

Primary hepatic carcinoid tumours

BACKGROUND

Carcinoid tumours of the liver are predominantly metastases from the gastrointestinal tract. Primary hepatic carcinoids are extremely rare.

DISCUSSION

In contrast to metastases, primary hepatic carcinoids are usually solitary and resectable. It is important that these tumours are differentiated from metastases. Complete surgical resection should be contemplated and is generally curative.

Primary lymph node gastrinoma: a case report

The Zollinger-Ellison syndrome consists of severe peptic ulceration, acid hypersecretion, and islet tumors known as gastrinomas. The discovery of gastrinomas in unusual locations such as lymph nodes, bones, ovaries, and the liver poses a diagnostic dilemma as to whether the tumor is primary or metastatic. Here we present a case of a primary gastrinoma within a lymph node.

Comparison of surgical results in patients with advanced and limited disease with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To determine the role of surgery in patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) with either limited or advanced pancreatic endocrine tumors (PETs).

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

The role of surgery in patients with MEN1 and ZES is controversial. There have been numerous previous studies of surgery in patients with PETs; however, there are no prospective studies on the results of surgery in patients with advanced disease.

METHODS

Eighty-one consecutive patients with MEN1 and ZES were assigned to one of four groups depending on the results of imaging studies. Group 1 (n = 17) (all PETs smaller than 2.5 cm) and group 3 (n = 8) (diffuse liver metastases) did not undergo surgery. All patients in group 2A (n = 17; single PET 2.5-6 cm [limited disease]) and group 2B (n = 31; two or more lesions, 2.5 cm in diameter or larger, or one lesion larger than 6 cm) underwent laparotomy. Tumors were preferably removed by simple enucleation, or if not feasible resection. Patients were reevaluated yearly.

RESULTS

Pancreatic endocrine tumors were found in all patients at surgery, with groups 2A and 2B having 1.7 +/- 0.4 and 4.8 +/- 1 PETs, respectively. Further, 35% of the patients in group 2A and 88% of the patients in group 2B had multiple PETs, 53% and 84% had a pancreatic PET, 53% and 68% had a duodenal gastrinoma, 65% and 71% had lymph node metastases, and 0% and 12% had liver metastases. Of the patients in groups 2A and 2B, 24% and 58% had a distal pancreatectomy, 0% and 13% had a hepatic resection, 0% and 6% had a Whipple operation, and 53% and 68% had a duodenal resection. No patient was cured at 5 years. There were no deaths. The early complication rate, 29%, was similar for groups 2A and 2B. Mean follow-up from surgery was 6.9 +/- 0.8 years, and during follow-up liver metastases developed in 6% of the patients in groups 2A and 2B. Groups 1, 2A, and 2B had similar 15-year survival rates (89-100%); they were significantly better than the survival rate for group 3 (52%).

CONCLUSIONS

Almost 40% of patients with MEN1 and ZES have advanced disease without diffuse distant metastases. Despite multiple primaries and a 70% incidence of lymph node metastases, tumor can be removed with no deaths and complication rates similar to those in patients with limited disease. Further, despite previous studies showing that patients with advanced disease have decreased survival rates, in this study the patients with advanced tumor who underwent surgical resection had the same survival as patients with limited disease and patients without identifiable tumor. This suggests that surgical resection should be performed in patients with MEN1 who have ZES and advanced localized PET.

Prognostic value of initial fasting serum gastrin levels in patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

PURPOSE

To assess the value of the initial fasting serum gastrin (FSG) at presentation in patients with Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome (ZES) in predicting primary tumor characteristics and survival.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 239 patients were treated for ZES between December 1981 and September 1998, with a mean follow-up of 9.1 +/- 0.6 years. At initial evaluation, 86 patients (36%) had mild (0 to 499 pg/mL), 61 (25.5%) had moderate (500 to 1,000 pg/mL), and 92 (38.5%) had severe (> 1,000 pg/mL) elevations in FSG. Primary tumor location and size, presence of lymph node or hepatic metastases, and survival were analyzed based on the level of initial FSG.

RESULTS

In patients with sporadic ZES, but not in those with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN-1) and ZES, there was a significant relationship between the level of initial FSG and tumor size and location of primary tumor, frequency of lymph node and liver metastases, and survival. The median 5- and 10-year survival decreased with increasing initial FSG (P <.001) in patients with sporadic ZES; MEN-1 patients lived longer than sporadic ZES patients (P =.012), and survival in this group was not associated with the level of initial FSG. Multivariate analysis showed that factors independently associated with death from disease in patients with sporadic ZES were liver metastases (P =.0001), a pancreatic site (P =.0027), and primary tumor size (P =.011) but not initial FSG (P >.30).

CONCLUSION

The severity of FSG at presentation is associated with size and site of tumor and the presence of hepatic metastases, factors that are significant independent predictors of outcome. The level of FSG at presentation may be useful in planning the nature and extent of the initial evaluation and management in patients with sporadic ZES.

The surgical management of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

NETs of pancreas are rare and may or may not be associated with symptoms of hormone overproduction. Treatment is required for control of tumor growth and for relief of symptoms associated with excess hormone. With advances in the nonsurgical management of many hormone-related symptoms (e.g., proton pump inhibitors or somatostatin analogues), care for many of these patients has shifted toward the control of tumor progression. Complete surgical resection is the only curative treatment for these tumors. With improvements in the preoperative imaging and intraoperative localization techniques, it is hoped that these tumors will be identified and resected for cure with increased frequency. For patients with hepatic metastasis, initial expectant observation and medical management of symptoms is appropriate in view of the long and indolent course of the disease. Hepatic arterial embolization is the preferred mode of palliation for pain and hormonal symptoms. A curative hepatic resection may be possible in selected patients.

Gastric secretion in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Correlation with clinical expression, tumor extent and role in diagnosis--a prospective NIH study of 235 patients and a review of 984 cases in the literature

We prospectively studied 235 patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) (205 without and 30 with prior acid-reducing surgery) and compared the results with 984 patients from 182 reports in the literature. The aims of the study were to evaluate the sensitivity of proposed acid secretory criteria for the diagnosis of ZES, propose new criteria, evaluate the variability and methodology of gastric secretory testing, and correlate the symptoms and signs of ZES, tumor extent, and primary tumor size and location with the degree of gastric acid hypersecretion. Multiple endocrine neoplasia-type 1 (MEN1) occurred in 22% of patients. The mean basal acid output (BAO) in patients without and with prior acid-reducing surgery was 41.2 +/- 1.7 mEq/hr (range, 1.6-118.3 mEq/hr) and 27.6 +/- 3.5 mEq/hr (range 5.9-102.9 mEq/hr), respectively. In patients with MEN1, those with female gender, Hispanic, or Asian race had lower BAOs. Diarrhea, esophageal stricture, and pyloric scarring were associated with a higher BAO. Neither other symptoms nor the tumor extent, primary tumor location, or size correlated with the magnitude of acid hypersecretion. ZES diagnosis was delayed a mean of 5.5 +/- 0.4 yr. Patients who were misdiagnosed as having either Crohn or celiac disease had higher BAOs. The sensitivities from our study and the literature review of the proposed BAO criteria for the diagnosis of ZES in patients without previous gastric acid-reducing surgery were 91% and 90% for BAO > or = 15 mEq/hr, 86% and 82% for BAO > or = 18 mEq/hr, 69% and 67% for BAO > 25 mEq/hr, and < 60% for BAO > 31 mEq/hr, respectively. The specificities of all the proposed BAO criteria were high. Both the criterion of BAO > or = 15 mEq/hr and BAO > or = 18 mEq/hr had good specificities and equal sensitivity. With prior acid-reducing surgery, the sensitivities in our study and from the literature review were 100% and 81% for BAO > or = 5 mEq/hr, 73% and 45% for BAO > 14.4 mEq/hr, and 37% and 31% for BAO > 19.2 mEq/hr, respectively. The reported mean specificity for the criterion of BAO > or = 5 mEq/hr was 85%, while it was 100% for the other 2 criteria. The maximal acid output (MAO) criterion of > 70 mEq/hr had sensitivities in the present National Institutes of Health (NIH) study and the literature review of 39% and 31%, respectively, and the criterion of MAO > 100 mEq/hr had a sensitivity of < 15% in patients with no prior acid-reducing surgery. The proposed criterion of BAO/MAO ratio > 0.6 had a low sensitivity. The proposed criterion of the ratio of basal and maximal acid H+ concentration (BAC/MAC ratio) > or = 0.6 had an excellent sensitivity-- > or = 89% in patients with or without previous acid-reducing surgery. The reported specificity for both the BAO/MAO criterion and the BAC/MAC criterion were similar, but BAC/MAC had a better sensitivity. Combination criteria of BAO generally did not improve sensitivity. The criterion of pH < or = 1 was met by only 27% of patients, and pH < or = 0.96 by 21% of patients with previous acid-reducing surgery. For patients with MEN1 with no prior acid-reducing surgery, the sensitivities were lower compared with patients with the sporadic form of ZES. The mean gastric volume in patients without prior acid-reducing surgery was 314 +/- 10 mL/hr and 247 +/- 25 mL/hr in patients with prior acid-reducing surgery. A basal volume criteria of > 160 mL/hr in patients without prior acid-reducing surgery occurred in > 86% of patients, and > 140 mL/hr in 87% of patients with prior acid-reducing surgery; these, thus, are neglected findings that have good sensitivities. Our analysis shows criteria based on MAO, pH, and BAO/MAO ratio do not have high sensitivities and thus are not useful. In patients without prior acid-reducing surgery, the criteria of BAO > or = 15 mEq/hr, BAC/MAC ratio > or = 0.6, and basal gastric volume > 160 mL/hr are useful for the diagnosis of ZES and have good specificities. In patients with prior acid-reducing surgery, the criteria of BAO > or = 5 mEq/hr, BAC/MAC ratio > or = 0.6, and basal gastric volume > 140 mL/hr have high sensitivities. In patients with sporadic ZES without acid-reducing surgery, the criterion of BAO > or = 18 mEq/hr is recommended as it has a similar sensitivity but higher specificity than the criterion of BAO > or = 15 mEq/hr. Only 1 patient in either data set (NIH or the literature) with or without previous acid-reducing surgery had a basal gastric pH > 2, therefore this finding essentially excludes the diagnosis of ZES. Gastric secretory measurements for 30 minutes, but not 15 minutes, give results comparable to those for a full hour. On the basis of these results, a number of gastric secretory criteria are proposed, including some for the first time, and alterations in methodology are proposed that should prove useful in the diagnosis of ZES.

A personal experience with pancreatic and duodenal neuroendocrine tumors

BACKGROUND

Since the concept of hormones was proposed in 1901, numerous gastrointestinal hormones and neuroendocrine tumors that can produce these hormones have been identified. The most common tumors are gastrinomas and insulinomas.

STUDY DESIGN

During a 35-year experience, there were 82 neuroendocrine tumors, including 37 gastrinomas, 11 insulinomas, 16 nonfunctioning tumors, 11 gastrinomas suspected but not found, 3 tumors arising in lymph nodes, 1 somatostatinoma, 1 glucagonoma, and 2 amphicrine tumors. MEN I syndrome coexisted with three pancreatic gastrinomas, two pancreatic and duodenal gastrinomas, four suspected gastrinomas, one nonfunctioning tumor, two insulinomas, and no duodenal gastrinomas.

RESULTS

Of the nine patients with pancreatic gastrinoma without MEN I, three had lymph node, three had liver metastases, and one had both. The mean survival time was 4.8 years. Three patients with pancreatic gastrinoma and MEN I were alive at 2, 17, and 20 years, respectively. Of the 20 patients with duodenal gastrinoma, none had MEN I; 13 had lymph node metastases and 1 had liver metastases. The overall followup was 7.0 years. Ten patients were biochemically cured. Nonfunctioning tumors, with one exception, originated in the pancreas. Of the three gastrinomas potentially arising in lymph nodes, two, and possibly three, were cured by node removal. Eleven patients had an insulinoma. No patient had recurrence of hypoglycemia after removal of an insulinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with duodenal gastrinoma with lymph node metastases were curable, and cures were achieved occasionally after resection of liver metastases. Results of operation were similar for those with and without MEN I. MEN I and metastases were not contraindications to operation; instead, these patients should be operated on aggressively. Gastrinomas not found at operation were likely to be small duodenal gastrinomas. Gastrinomas can arise in a lymph node and can be cured by its removal. Parietal cell vagotomy is recommended after operation for gastrinomas in the event of residual tumor. With the exception of patients with MEN I or microadenomata, insulinomas were treated best by tumor enucleation. Otherwise, Whipple operation or distal pancreatectomy and enucleation of tumor in the remaining pancreas was indicated.

Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome

The first goal of therapy is the control of gastric acid hypersecretion using PPIs or high-dose H2R antagonists. The diagnosis of Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN I) should be established early in the disease. Localization of gastrinoma tumor should be performed using a combination of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS), and computerized tomography (CT), or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Surgical resection in sporadic ZES should be performed to attempt cure of tumor. Surgery, hormonal, chemotherapy, embolization therapy or therapeutic OctreoScan should be considered in patients with metastatic tumor.

Prospective study of the value of serum chromogranin A or serum gastrin levels in the assessment of the presence, extent, or growth of gastrinomas

BACKGROUND

Serum chromogranin A levels (CgA) are reported by some authors to be of clinical utility for assessing the presence or absence of a pancreatic endocrine tumor and tumor extent or growth. The aim of the current study was to assess this finding and compare the results with those from serum gastrin determinations (FSG) in a large cohort of patients with gastrinomas.

METHODS

In 112 consecutive patients with the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome serum CgA and FSG levels were measured and correlated with disease activity, extent of disease, and the presence of multiple endocrine neoplasia type-1 (MEN-1) or gastric carcinoid tumors.

RESULTS

Serum CgA levels drawn on 2 consecutive days correlated closely (P < 0.00001) as did serum gastrin levels. Serum CgA levels correlated significantly with FSG levels (P < 0.00001). Serum CgA and FSG levels were significantly higher in patients with active disease than in disease free patients (P < 0.00001). The sensitivity for the presence of disease was higher for CgA compared with FSG (92% vs. 80%; P = 0.021). However, the specificity of CgA was 67%. Serum CgA levels were not significantly different in the four disease categories (stable extrahepatic disease, increasing extrahepatic disease, stable liver metastases, and increasing liver metastases). FSG levels were significantly lower in patients with stable extrahepatic disease compared with those with increasing extrahepatic disease. However, both tumor markers decreased significantly with a gastrinoma resection in five patients. The presence of MEN-1 or a gastric carcinoid tumor did not influence the results.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the current study showed that serum CgA and FSG levels both are sensitive tumor markers for the detection of a gastrinoma; however, CgA levels have a relatively low specificity. Neither the magnitude of the serum CgA nor gastrin level correlated with tumor growth or tumor extent and therefore cannot be used to determine these variables. However, in contrast to some other studies, the results of the current study show that changes in serum CgA or gastrin in a given patient with time are related to the tumor extent and not to gastric mucosal changes due to hypergastrinemia.

Prospective study of the clinical course, prognostic factors, causes of death, and survival in patients with long-standing Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

PURPOSE

The long-term clinical course of unselected patients with gastrinomas as well as other functional pancreatic endocrine tumors (PETs) in whom the excess-hormone state is controlled is largely unknown. To address this issue, patients with gastrinomas were assessed.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Two hundred twelve patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) were prospectively studied. All had controlled acid hypersecretion and were assessed yearly, with a mean follow-up period of 13.8+/-0.6 years (range, 0.1 to 31 years). Annual assessments of possible factors that might affect prognosis or treatment approaches were performed, such as those for tumor size and location; the presence, location, and extent of metastases; and the occurrence of ectopic Cushing's syndrome or another PET syndrome. Deaths were categorized as ZES-related or non-ZES-related and classified into different causes.

RESULTS

Thirty-one percent of patients died, all of non-acid-related causes. One half died of a ZES-related cause; they differed from those who died of non-ZES deaths by having a large primary tumor, more frequently a pancreatic tumor; lymph node, liver, or bone metastases; ectopic Cushing's syndrome; or higher gastrin levels. The extent of liver metastases correlated with survival rate. The presence of liver metastases alone only moderately decreased survival time; however, the additional development of bone metastases or ectopic Cushing's syndrome markedly decreased survival rate.

CONCLUSIONS

In ZES, gastrinoma growth is now the main single determinant of long-term survival, with one half of patients dying a gastrinoma-related death and none an acid-related death. Large primary tumors that are pancreatic in location, the development of liver metastases, (especially if associated with bone metastases or Cushing's syndrome), and the extent of liver metastases are all important prognostic factors. The identification of these factors allows the recognition of subgroups that can be used to tailor antitumor treatment approaches.

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the liver: an autopsy case

An autopsy case of hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma is described. An 84-year-old man had a white solid tumor measuring 5 cm in greatest diameter and multiple small nodules in the non-cirrhotic liver. Microscopically, these lesions were characterized by solid nesting, trabecular, and insular arrangements of small- to medium-sized cells. The tumor cells were argyrophilic and electron microscopy showed dense core granules and formation of bile canaliculi. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for cytokeratin CAM 5.2, chromogranin A, Leu-7, neuron-specific enolase, and alpha-fetoprotein. The tumor was diploid by flow cytometry. The patient had metastases in the vertebrae, lung, pancreas, and an hepatic hilar lymph node. The patient had an occult rectal tumor of intramucosal well-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma without metastasis. No alternative primary source of the endocrine tumor was detected. The patient died 1 month after presentation.

Long-term outcome of completion gastrectomy for nonmalignant disease

Between 1989 and 1995 we performed completion gastrectomy for non-malignant disease in 21 patients (11 men and 10 women, mean age 48.4 years). These patients had undergone a total of 48 prior gastric operations. Indications for completion gastrectomy in this group were anastomotic ulceration with stricture in eight patients, alkaline reflux gastritis and/or esophagitis in eight, postsurgical gastroparesis in two, gastroesophageal necrosis in two, and gastrocutaneous fistula in one. Major preoperative symptoms included nausea and vomiting in 16 cases, abdominal pain in 15, dysphagia in 14, heartburn in seven, and weight loss in five. Following completion gastrectomy, five patients (24%) had serious complications and there was one postoperative death (5%). Five patients were lost to follow-up. For the remaining 15 patients, mean follow-up has been 30 months with a range of 1 to 70 months. These patients were all interviewed and eight (53%) report significant improvement, two (13%) report moderate improvement, and four (27%) report no improvement; one patient (7%) has had worsening of symptoms since undergoing completion gastrectomy. The average body weight index was essentially unchanged after completion gastrectomy. We conclude that completion gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy results in a favorable outcome in the majority of selected patients with diseases of the foregut who are unresponsive to less radical treatment.

Gastrointestinal endocrine tumours. Gastrinoma

Since the description of the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome in two patients in 1955, there have been significant advances in the understanding of its pathogenesis, natural history, relationship to multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, diagnosis, methods of tumour localization and management. The main focus in treatment is now shifting from management of the gastric acid hypersecretory state which can now be controlled medically in almost every patient, to the management of the gastrinoma. Recent studies are beginning to provide insights into the natural history of gastrinomas, factors that are associated with invasiveness in some gastrinomas, defining the role of surgery in managing patients with different disease extents, or with MEN 1 and being able to provide insights into molecular abnormalities that may be important in their pathogenesis. In this article each of these advances is briefly reviewed with emphasis primarily on recent advances.

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Recognition and management of acid hypersecretion

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) should be suspected if a patient has severe peptic ulceration, ulcers and kidney stones, a family history of ulcers or endocrine diseases, watery diarrhoea or malabsorption with or without ulcers, or if hypergastrinaemia is found. Any patient in whom ZES is suspected, and certainly if diagnosed, should be given large doses of antisecretory medication immediately. This should never be stopped except under controlled conditions or unless acid outputs have been reduced surgically. Patients cannot be managed safely without measuring acid outputs. These should be lowered to < 10 mmol/h, or < 5 mmol/h in patients with a previous gastric resection or severe oesophageal disease. Acid secretion can be controlled acutely in 70% of patients with an infusion of ranitidine 1 mg/kg/h, while 4 mg/kg/h will control acid in all. The initial oral dosage of omeprazole or lansoprazole should be 60 mg/day. Doses should then be adjusted daily on the basis of acid outputs. Proton pump inhibitors in a dosage of 60 mg/day will control acid output in most patients and 60 mg every 12 hours will control acid output in all. Doses can then often be slowly and progressively reduced. A parietal cell vagotomy reduces acid secretion and reduces, but does not abolish, the need for antisecretory medication. In patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and hyperparathyroidism, a parathyroidectomy that results in normocalcaemia will reduce acid secretion and drug requirements. A total gastrectomy is rarely if ever needed nowadays. Given the high degree of safety of gastric antisecretory medications versus the risks of acid hypersecretion in patients with ZES, the mistakes in management of acid hypersecretion that must be avoided are those of giving insufficient medication and not measuring acid secretory rates.

Prospective study of surgical resection of duodenal and pancreatic gastrinomas in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1

BACKGROUND

The role of surgical resection of gastrinoma in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1) is controversial because of low biochemical cure rates, but with adequate duodenal exploration higher cure rates may be possible.

METHODS

We have prospectively evaluated this proposal in ten consecutive patients with MEN 1 and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome who underwent surgical exploration for gastrinoma resection including a detailed evaluation of the duodenum by palpation, intraoperative endoscopy with transillumination, and duodenotomy.

RESULTS

Duodenal tumors were present in seven patients. Six of seven patients had metastatic deposits in lymph nodes, and two of seven had synchronous pancreatic tumors. Three patients had a single duodenal tumor, one patient had two tumors, and three patients had more than 20 duodenal tumors. Positive gastrin staining by use of immunohistochemistry was seen in all duodenal tumors. None of these seven patients were biochemically cured. Of three patients with negative duodenal explorations, two had single pancreatic tumors removed and one had only lymph node gastrinoma. No patients were biochemically cured.

CONCLUSIONS

Not all patients with MEN 1 and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome have duodenal gastrinomas. In the 70% of patients with duodenal tumors, even extensive duodenal exploration with removal of positive lymph nodes does not result in cures because 86% of tumors had metastasized to lymph nodes and 43% of patients had large numbers of tumors.

Forty-year appraisal of gastrinoma. Back to the future

OBJECTIVE

The author analyzed potential survival determinants in gastrinoma to characterize a possible uniform staging system and to determine whether complete surgical resection improves expected survival.

SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND DATA

Gastrinoma is an indolent yet malignant neuroendocrine tumor. The associated gastric acid hypersecretion can be controlled medically. Staging of gastrinoma is inconsistent and the role of surgical resection controversial.

METHODS

Seventy-four patients with gastrinoma with a minimum 5-year follow-up were assessed. Cox's proportional hazards regression model was used to examine the association of risk factors with survival.

RESULTS

The following factors had no effect on survival: age at diagnosis, sex, presence of lymph node metastases, associated multiple endocrine neoplasia, and method of ulcer treatment. The three unique determinants of survival were primary tumor size (relative risk, 1.534; p = 0.0005), liver metastases (relative risk, 2.947; p = 0.0209), and complete surgical resection (relative risk, 0.163; p = 0.0076). On the basis of these risk factors, a uniform staging system is proposed and predictive survival curves developed.

CONCLUSIONS

The primary determinants of survival in gastrinoma are the size of the primary tumor and liver metastases. Complete surgical resection reduces mortality, regardless of other factors.

Advances in the management of patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

A detailed description of recent advances in the management of patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) is presented. The clinical presentation is reviewed, and newer diagnostic tools, both preoperative and intraoperative, are discussed. An update on surgical management is presented, including indications for abdominal exploration, intraoperative localization techniques, surgical excision, and the approach to patients with metastases or in whom no tumor is found. New strategies in the medical management of ZES also are reviewed. An update on patient survival is presented, and a review of the management of patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and ZES is discussed.

Determinants of metastatic rate and survival in patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome: a prospective long-term study

BACKGROUND/AIMS

It is unclear whether tumor location, size, or the presence of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN-1) alters metastatic rate and survival in patients with pancreatic endocrine tumors. The purpose of this study was to determine the prognostic factors of survival and metastatic rate in patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES).

METHODS

Data were analyzed from 185 consecutive patients with ZES who were followed up prospectively.

RESULTS

Liver metastases were present in 24% of patients and correlated with the size of the primary tumor. Duodenal tumors were smaller than pancreatic tumors. Liver metastases occurred more often (P < 0.00001) with pancreatic than duodenal tumors, whereas the metastatic rate to lymph nodes was not different. Survival of patients with liver but not lymph node metastases was shortened. In patients with sporadic ZES, liver metastases were more common during the initial evaluation and survival was decreased compared with patients with MEN-1; however, during follow-up, an equal percentage of patients with and without MEN-1 developed liver metastases.

CONCLUSIONS

Survival was primarily determined by the presence of liver metastases. The frequency of liver metastases depends on the size and location of the primary tumor and on the presence of MEN-1 at the initial presentation. Metastases to the lymph nodes do not depend on these factors. A benign and malignant form of ZES exists.

Management of patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) is caused by gastrin-secreting tumors called gastrinomas. Patients commonly present with peptic ulcer disease and may have recurrent, multiple, and atypically located ulcers, e.g. in the jejunum. Alternatively, severe diarrhea may be the only presenting symptom. Patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia Type I (MEN-I) and ZES become symptomatic at an earlier age than patients with sporadic ZES. Patients with ZES have elevated fasting serum gastrin concentrations (> 100 pg/ml) and basal gastric acid hypersecretion (> 15 mEq/h). The secretin stimulation test is the best test to distinguish ZES from other conditions resulting in elevated gastrin levels. Gastric acid hypersecretion can be controlled in virtually all patients with H2-receptor antagonists or omeprazole, thus rendering total gastrectomy unnecessary. Computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), radionuclide octreotide scanning, endoscopic ultrasound, and the selective arterial secretin injection test are the recommended imaging studies for localization of gastrinoma; nevertheless, 50% of gastrinomas are not evident on preoperative imaging studies. All patients with sporadic gastrinoma who do not have unresectable metastatic disease should undergo exploratory laparotomy for potential curative resection. With increased awareness of duodenal tumors, gastrinoma can be found in 80-90% of patients. Surgery may be the most effective treatment for metastatic gastrinoma if most or all of the tumor can be resected. The management of patients with MEN-I and ZES remains controversial. Some clinicians advocate an aggressive surgical approach, whereas others have had little success in rendering patients eugastrinemic.

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome can be the initial endocrine manifestation in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia-type I

PURPOSE

To determine whether patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type I (MEN-I) can initially present with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES), and to learn whether ZES exhibits any distinguishing features when it occurs as a first manifestation of MEN-I.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Sixty patients who had been referred to a clinical research center with ZES were examined by cohort analysis. Twenty-eight had MEN-I and 32 did not. In patients with MEN-I, we analyzed the temporal relationships between the clinical and biochemical manifestations of ZES and the other endocrinopathies associated with the neoplasia. To determine whether patients who had ZES as a first manifestation of MEN-I (n = 8) had any distinguishing clinical characteristics, we compared them to a cohort of patients with established sporadic ZES (n = 32) matched for age, sex, and time since the onset of symptoms consistent with ZES.

RESULTS

Of the 28 patients with ZES and MEN-I, 11 initially presented with ZES and hyperparathyroidism (HP) and 1 with evidence only for pituitary disease. Eight patients (29%) presented with features of ZES and developed clinical and biochemical evidence for HP later, while the same number developed these 2 endocrinopathies in the opposite order. In whichever order ZES and HP occurred, the time from the diagnosis of the first to the diagnosis of the second was similar. It ranged from 9 to 177 months in patients who presented with ZES first, and from 12 to 264 months in patients who presented with HP first. At the time of initial diagnosis, the patients who presented with ZES as a manifestation of MEN-I had no distinguishing ZES-related symptoms, biochemical assays, or tumor imaging results compared to the cohort of patients who had the syndrome sporadically.

CONCLUSION

Patients with MEN-I can initially present with a symptomatic pancreatic endocrine tumor syndrome without any other disease manifestations. In patients with ZES and MEN-I, up to one third may present with ZES without evidence of any other endocrinopathy. Consequently, patients with presumed sporadic ZES should undergo continual biochemical screening for other endocrinopathies characteristic of MEN-I and, in the future, genetic studies for the MEN-I gene.

Surgery in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome alters the natural history of gastrinoma

OBJECTIVE

The authors assessed the impact of gastrinoma resection on the subsequent development of hepatic metastases in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

The symptoms of acid hypersecretion can be controlled medically in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome with high-dose pharmacologic therapy. The current role of surgery is curative excision of the gastrinoma. Because biochemical cure is obtained only in a portion of the patients and the neoplastic disease may be indolent in this syndrome, the ability of surgical resection of gastrinoma to alter or improve the subsequent development of hepatic metastases and mortality has not been defined.

METHODS

One hundred twenty-four patients with the biochemical diagnosis of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and no hepatic metastases on initial imaging studies were evaluated. Ninety-eight patients underwent surgical exploration for curative gastrinoma resections while 26 patients were managed medically. Long-term follow-up regarding development of hepatic metastases and survival were evaluated.

RESULTS

Surgical exploration with gastrinoma excision resulted in a significantly decreased incidence of hepatic metastases 3% (3/98) compared with patients managed medically 23% (6/26) with comparable follow-up (p < 0.003). Two deaths due to metastatic gastrinoma occurred in the nonoperative group compared with no disease-specific deaths in the surgical group (p = 0.085).

CONCLUSIONS

For the patient with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome without metastatic disease, surgical exploration with attempted curative gastrinoma resection is recommended because it may alter the natural history of this syndrome.