Sporadic nonfunctional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: Risk of lymph node metastases and aggressiveness according to tumor size: A multicenter international study.

BACKGROUND: Although the correlation between tumor size and aggressiveness is clearly established in sporadic nonfunctional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, the management of tumors ≤2 cm remains debated. In recent guidelines, the cut-off size to operate ranged from 1 to 2 cm. The aim of this retrospective study was to report the rate of lymph nodes metastases in resected sporadic nonfunctional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, according to tumor size and, second, to identify risk factors of lymph node metastases and disease-free survival. METHODS: Resected sporadic nonfunctional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors from 9 international expert centers were included (1999-2017). Functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, genetic syndromes, and R2 resection were excluded. Aggressiveness was defined as microvascular invasion, perineural invasion, lymph node metastases, G3 grading, distant metastases, and/or recurrence. RESULTS: Overall, 495 resected sporadic nonfunctional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors were included. For tumors up to 5 cm, the risk of lymph node metastases was increased by 1.73 for every 1 cm increase in size (odds ratio = 1.73; 95% confidence interval = 1.46-2.03). Tumor size >2 cm (P < .001), perineural invasion (P = .002), microvascular invasion (P < .001), and distant metastases (P = .008) were independently associated with lymph node metastases. Tumor size >2 cm (P = .003), R1 status (P = .004), lymph node metastases (P < .001), and World Health Organization grade 3 (P = .002) were independently associated with disease-free survival. Aggressiveness rate was 13.1% in tumors ≤1 cm and 29% in tumors between 1.1 and 2 cm. CONCLUSION: In resected sporadic nonfunctional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, the risk of lymph node metastases is correlated to tumor size. Considering that sporadic nonfunctional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors between 1.1 and 2 cm had a higher risk of lymph node metastases and recurrence compared to tumors ≤1 cm, the decision to perform surgery in this subgroup of patients should be individualized in surgically fit patients.

Tailored access to the hepatobiliary system in post-bariatric patients: a tertiary care bariatric center experience.

BACKGROUND: In bariatric surgery patients, pancreaticobiliary access via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is technically challenging and the optimal approach for the evaluation and treatment of biliary tree-related pathologies has been debated. Besides laparoscopy-assisted ERCP (LA-ERCP) as standard of care, EUS-directed transgastric ERCP (EDGE) and hepaticogastrostomy (HGS) with placement of a fully covered metal stent have emerged as novel techniques. The objective of this study was to evaluate safety and efficacy of three different endoscopic approaches (LA-ERCP, EDGE, and HGS) in bariatric patients. METHODS: In this retrospective review, consecutive patients with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG) who underwent from 2013 to 2019 a LA-ERCP, an EDGE, or a HGS at a tertiary care reference center for bariatric surgery were analyzed. Patient demographics, type of procedure and indication, data regarding cannulation and therapeutic intervention of the common bile duct (procedure success), and clinical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 19 patients were included. Indications for LA-ERCP, EDGE, or HGS were mostly choledocholithiasis (78.9%) and in a few cases papillitis stenosans. Eight patients (57.1%) with LA-ERCP underwent concomitant cholecystectomy. Procedure success was achieved in 100%. Adverse events (AEs) were identified in 15.7% of patients (all ERCP related). All AEs were rated as moderate and there were no serious AEs. CONCLUSION: This case series indicates that ERCP via a transgastric approach (LA-ERCP, EDGE, or HGS) is a minimally invasive, effective, and feasible method to access the biliary tree in bariatric patients. These techniques offer an appealing alternative treatment option compared to percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and drainage- or deep enteroscopy-assisted ERCP. In bariatric patients who earlier had a cholecystectomy, EUS-guided techniques were the preferred treatment options for biliary pathologies.