Atypical presentation and diagnosis of a metastatic grade II pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor in a 52‑year‑old female patient: A case report
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) are rare malignant neoplasms characterized by slow growth and variable clinical presentation. Although some secrete functional hormones, the majority remain clinically silent or manifest with non-specific symptoms, posing a challenge to early diagnosis. The present study describes the case of a 52-year-old female patient with a significant family history of malignancy, who presented with a syncopal episode following months of weight loss, fatigue and vague abdominal symptoms. A diagnostic workup revealed severe anemia and imaging findings consistent with metastatic disease. A computed tomogrpaphy-guided liver biopsy confirmed a moderately differentiated, grade II neuroendocrine tumor. Treatment with intramuscular octreotide was initiated, and the patient was discharged under palliative care. The case described herein underscores the clinical complexity and often subtle nature of PanNETs, and highlights the importance of considering them in the differential diagnosis of persistent constitutional symptoms, particularly in high-risk individuals. Timely diagnosis supported by histopathology and immunohistochemistry, combined with access to targeted therapies, is essential to improve the outcomes of patients. The integration of molecular screening and emerging therapeutic targets may transform the management of PanNETs, enabling earlier and more personalized interventions in the near future.
Source: Medicine International
DOI: 10.3892/mi.2025.271
Authors: Luisa Montemayor Burrola, Hugo López, América Ulate, Edgar Martínez Rosales
Institution: Mexican Social Security Institute
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4414553017
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