Functional pancreatic islet cell tumors with liver metastasis: the role of cytoreductive surgery and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization: a report of five cases

Malignant pancreatic islet tumors are slow-growing tumors. Their relatively benign behavior makes aggressive treatment worthwhile. From January, 1987, to January, 1998, five cases of malignant pancreatic islet tumors with liver metastasis were diagnosed at the Veterans General Hospital-Taipei. Of these, three were gastrinomas and the others were vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIPoma, 1 case) and insulinoma (1 case). Four patients (3 with gastrinomas and 1 with insulinoma) had undergone cytoreductive surgery when the diagnosis of metastasis was made. All five patients underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). All patients had improved symptoms after cytoreductive surgery and TACE. The survival of patients who underwent combined surgery and TACE was 38 and 17 months in the two gastrinoma cases, more than eight months in one gastrinoma case and more than 20 months in the insulinoma case (these 2 patients are still alive). One VIPoma patient who underwent TACE survived for 12 months. In conclusion, treatment for metastatic pancreatic islet cell tumors require a multidisciplinary approach. Metastasis of the tumor is not a contraindication for aggressive therapy. Combined cytoreductive surgery and TACE can relieve symptoms and are of benefit for patients with pancreatic islet cell tumors with liver metastases.