Significant Intra-pancreatic Fat Deposition as an Independent Prognostic Factor in High-grade Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms
A simple CT scan measurement predicts survival in rare pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, offering non-invasive risk assessment.
This multicenter retrospective study (n=87 high-grade panNENs, 3 centers, 11 years) identifies significant intra-pancreatic fat deposition as an independent adverse prognostic factor in a rare but lethal tumor type, with a more-than-doubled hazard for death. The CT-based imaging biomarker (pancreas-to-spleen attenuation ratio <0.70) is non-invasive, widely available, and could be integrated into risk stratification algorithms for this rare neuroendocrine malignancy.
What the study was
- Study design
- Retrospective multicenter cohort (3 centers, 2013-2024)
- Population
- Patients with high-grade pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (panNENs); n=87
- Sample size
- 87
- Category
- Diagnostics
- Maturity
- Exploratory
- Journal
- Annals of Surgical Oncology
Why it surfaced
Novel CT-based prognostic imaging biomarker in a rare, aggressive tumor with very limited treatment options. Multicenter design adds robustness for n=87. HR >2 for both OS and DSS is clinically meaningful. Requires prospective validation in larger cohorts.
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