Value of surgery in patients with negative imaging and sporadic Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

OBJECTIVES

To address the value of surgery in patients with sporadic Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) with negative imaging studies.

BACKGROUND

Medical control of acid hypersecretion in patients with sporadic ZES is highly effective. This has led to these patients frequently not being sent to surgery, especially if preoperative imaging studies are negative, due, in large part, to existence of almost no data on the success of surgery in this group.

METHODS

Fifty-eight prospectively studied patients with sporadic ZES (17% of total studied) had negative imaging studies, and their surgical outcome was compared with 117 patients with positive imaging results.

RESULTS

Thirty-five patients had negative imaging studies in the pre-somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) era, and 23 patients in the post-SRS era. Patients with negative imaging studies had long disease histories before surgery [mean ± SEM (from onset) = 7.9 ± 1 [range, -0.25 to 35 years]) and 25% were followed for 2 or more years from diagnosis. At surgery, gastrinoma was found in 57 of 58 patients (98%). Tumors were small (mean = 0.8 cm, 60% <1 cm). The most common primary sites were duodenal 64%, pancreatic 17%, and lymph node (10%). Fifty percent had a primary-only, 41% primary + lymph node, and 7% had liver metastases. Thirty-five of 58 patients (60%) were cured immediately postoperatively, and at last follow-up [mean = -9.4 years; range, 0.2-22 years], 27 patients (46%) remained cured. During follow-up, 3 patients died, each had liver metastases at surgery. In comparison to positive imaging patients, those with negative imaging studies had lower preoperative fasting gastrin levels; had a longer delay before surgery; more frequently had a small duodenal tumor; less frequently had a pancreatic tumor, multiple tumors, or developed a new lesion postoperatively; and had a longer survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Sporadic ZES patients with negative imaging studies are not rare even in the post-SRS period. An experienced surgeon can find gastrinoma in almost every patient (98%) and nearly one half (46%) are cured, a rate similar to patients with positive imaging findings. Because liver metastases were found in 7%, which may have been caused by a long delay in surgery and all the disease-related deaths occurred in this group, surgery should be routinely undertaken early in ZES patients despite negative imaging studies.

[Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome]

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is a rare disorder caused by tumor secretion of gastrin, which results in gastric acid hypersecretion and secondarily in complicated peptic ulcer and diarrhea. ZES might be associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. The two main principal therapeutic strategies are to control both the gastric acid hypersecretion and the growth of the tumor. Surgery often fails to be curative and therefore many patients requires medical therapy, mainly treatment with proton pump inhibitors. The aim of this paper was to critically discuss contemporary diagnosis and treatment of this neoplasm on the basis of progress made in recent years.

Presentation and outcome of pancreaticoduodenal endocrine tumors in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 syndrome

AIM

To assess presentation and outcome of pancreaticoduodenal endocrine tumors (PDETs) in a single center series of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) patients.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of MEN1 patients observed at the University of Verona.

RESULTS

Thirty-one MEN1 patients had PDETs, including 16 nonfunctioning (NF), 6 insulinomas and 9 Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES). In 16 of these patients (52%), PDET was the manifestation which led to the diagnosis of MEN1; among this group, 15 patients (94%) previously had unidentified primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), which was asymptomatic in 9 cases (60%). Of the 31 patients, 19 (61%) underwent curativesurgery and 13 (68%, 7 NF-PDETs, 4 insulinomas and 2 ZES) were disease-free after a median follow-up of 3 years (range: 0.5-15). One patient had debulking surgery with stable disease after 2 years of follow-up. Eight patients with NF-PDETs ≤20 mm and 2 with ZES, treated with a conservative approach, showed stable disease. One patient with insulinoma was lost to follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

PDET may be the manifestation that leads to MEN1 diagnosis since the almost constant presence of PHPT is very often unrecognized or considered sporadic. Conversely, the presence of PDETs should be looked for in all patients presenting PHPT, even if asymptomatic, particularly before age 50. Surgery may be curative in the majority of insulinomas and can prolong disease-free survival in NF-PDET, but is not proven to be effective in ZES. A conservative approach can be safely reserved for patients with NF-PDETs ≤20 mm.

[Zollinger-Ellison syndrome: a case report.]

Forty-two year-old woman, with no relevant medical history, presented with 3-year burning epigastric pain radiating to right upper quadrant, accompanied by nausea and vomiting, food intolerance and estheatorrea. She was treated by 2 years with H2 blockers. Cholelithiasis was found and laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed without changes in clinical picture. She presented upper gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to severe esophagitis and gastritis. Proton pump inhibitors at high doses were added to the treatment with partial improvement. Abdominal ultrasound showed tumor in pancreatic head but it was not confirmed by computed tomography. High levels of serum gastrin (17,251 μg/L) were detected. Patient underwent laparotomy and with the aid of ultrasound the mass in the head of the pancreas was localized and resected. Recovery was uneventful. The pathology report was a gastrinoma. At one year follow up, patient remains asymptomatic.

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.

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome: a personal perspective

The odyssey of Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome is one of the most interesting in surgery. From the initial recognition of two patients with severe peptic ulcer disease in 1955 sprung an international dialogue on this unique disease culminating in discovery that gastrin was the hormone secreted by these pancreatic and duodenal tumors. The impact was the birth of a new area of science, "gastrointestinal endocrinology." Initially, surgeons were challenged by the complexity of the patients and the need to perform total gastrectomy to prevent death from complications of the severe ulcer disease. Later, after the discovery of proton pump inhibitors, total gastrectomy was no longer needed and the surgeon could focus treatment on tumor removal added by radioimmunoassay for gastrin and new imaging modalities. Today, we recognize that all gastrinomas have malignant potential; early surgical removal can reduce the incidence of metastases and improve survival, independent of biochemical cure, in both sporadic and familial forms of the disease.

[Case of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome diagnosed three years after ulcer perforation in the third portion of the duodenum]

A 61-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for a double balloon endoscopy (DBE) examination of small intestine. She had undergone laparotomy for a perforated ulcer of the 3rd portion in the duodenum 3 years prior to this admission. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy at the previous hospital revealed multiple ulcers in the 2nd and 3rd portions in the duodenum. DBE revealed multiple ulcer scars in the proximal jejunum. Zollinger-Ellison syndrome was suspected from the distribution of the ulcers and scars. Serum gastrin was high and a selective arterial calcium injection test showed a step up of gastrin level only in the gastroduodenal artery area. We diagnosed a gastrinoma located on the ventral side of the 2nd portion of the duodenum from imaging studies. The tumor was extirpated and histologically found to be a neuroendocrine tumor in a lymph node. Serum gastrin level decreased to the normal range a day after surgery.

Surgical treatment of sporadic gastrinoma

Surgical therapy for sporadic gastrinoma profits from innovative pre- and intraoperative diagnostics. Preoperative gastrinoma localization is enhanced by sophisticated endoscopic ultrasonography, scintigraphic and arteriographic studies with hormone sampling. Thereby a concise surgical approach is guided and additional intraoperative control of success may be gained by endoscopic transillumination and measurement of stimulated gastrin levels.

[Rare occurrence of fulminant acid burn of the esophagus]

Peptic ulcer due to Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is a rare entity. In this case report a 55-year-old man had a medical history of esophageal reflux, vomiting, and diarrhea for 10 years. Despite continuous medication with a proton pump inhibitor, no complete recovery from symptoms was achieved. A diagnosis of gastrinoma was at first not considered. After discontinuation of the proton pump inhibitor for only a few days, the strong stimulation of the gastrinoma led to fulminant hydrochloric acid burn of the distal esophagus with iatrogenic or spontaneous perforation at the esophagogastral junction. We describe the operative treatment as a two-stage reconstruction with colon interposition and resection of the primary tumor in the duodenum.

Chromogranin A: Is It a Useful Marker of Neuroendocrine Tumors?

Purpose

We evaluated the pattern of chromogranin A (CgA) plasma levels in a large number of patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), in a series of patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) with and without enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cell hyperplasia, and in healthy participants (HPs).

Patients and Methods

Two hundred thirty-eight patients with NETs, 42 patients with CAG with or without ECL cell hyperplasia, and 48 HPs were studied. All patients underwent a baseline visit, biochemical routine check-up, imaging techniques, endoscopy, and histologic determination.

Results

CgA plasma levels were higher in patients with NETs compared with CAG patients or HPs (P < .001). In the NET group, we observed higher CgA levels in patients with diffuse disease compared with patients with local or hepatic disease (P < .001). CgA plasma levels were significantly higher in patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome compared with other types of endocrine tumors (P < .001). We found the best cutoff range between HPs and NET patients to be 18 to 19 U/L (sensitivity, 85.3%; specificity, 95.8%). Comparing all participants without neoplasia (HPs, CAG patients, and disease-free patients) and patients with endocrine tumors, the best cutoff range was 31 to 32 U/L (sensitivity, 75.3%; specificity, 84.2%). Setting the specificity at 95%, the cutoff range was 84 to 87 U/L (sensitivity, 55%).

Conclusion

Our study confirms the high specificity and sensitivity of CgA in diagnosing an endocrine tumor. It is necessary to use a cutoff range of 84 to 87 U/L to obtain a high specificity in diagnosing NETs, with the aim of excluding patients in whom the CgA was elevated as a result of other non-neoplastic diseases.

[A woman with shock as first sign of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome]

A 49-year-old woman presented at the emergency ward in shock with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Extensive ulceration confirmed by gastroduodenoscopy was suggestive of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Further evaluation by fasting gastrin assessment, CT, endosonography with cytological biopsy and somatostatin-receptor scintigraphy confirmed the diagnosis ofgastrinoma. Three enlarged lymph nodes near the pancreatic head were surgically removed; each was found to contain neuroendocrine tumour cells. The patient recovered rapidly after surgery and the gastrin level normalised. Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is uncommon but should be considered as a possible cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Shock is very rarely the first sign ofZollinger-Ellison syndrome. In this case, the use of a proton-pump inhibitor may have masked the disease for years.

[Neuroendocrine tumors of the gastrointestinal tract]

Neuroendocrine tumors (NET) of the gastrointestinal tract are rare and constitute 0.5-1% of all human malignancies. Based on their endocrine secretion, they are functional active or inactive. They are further classified into fore-, mid-, or hindgut tumors. The recently published WHO-classification grouped the tumors according to their tumor size, angioinvasion and Ki-67 index. NET are mainly diagnosed in an advanced tumor stadium because of the paucity of symptoms or when symptoms occur due to endocrine hypersecretion. NET are diagnosed serologically by their hormone secretion and by measuring Chromogranin A levels. They are further detected by CT, MRI or endoscopy including endoscopic ultrasound. Many NET have somatostatin receptors on their surface and can be diagnosed by somatostatin receptor scintigrafy with high sensitivity and specificity. Only by surgery NET can be cured. Because many tumors are diagnosed late, medical options are of utmost importance. Symptom control can be established by somatostatin analogues and interferon-ot. Diazoxid can further inhibit insulin secretion, proton pump inhibitors are the therapy of choice for acid hypersecretion in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Advanced neuroendocrine cancers can be treated with chemotherapy. Recently, radio receptor therapy with 90Y-DOTA Octreotid and 177Lu-DOTA Octreotate was established in advanced neuroendocrine cancers and is further evaluated in studies. Net of the gastrointestinal tract should be treated in a multidisciplinary approach with gastroenterologists, surgeons and experts in nuclear medicine. An overview about epidemiology, clinical features, diagnostic methods and therapy of NET of the gastrointestinal tract will is provided in this article.

Validation of a new endoscopic technique to assess acid output in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

BACKGROUND & AIMS

To safely manage the hypersecretory state in patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, both upper endoscopy and gastric analysis are required to titrate optimal medical therapy. Conventional gastric analysis requires more than 1 hour to perform and results in significant patient dissatisfaction. In this study, we have validated endoscopic gastric analysis as a novel technique that can effectively replace conventional gastric analysis.

METHODS

In a prospective, cross-over study, 12 patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome underwent gastric analysis, first by the conventional method and then by an endoscopic technique performed on the same day. Acid concentration was determined by titration, volume output was recorded, and acid output was calculated using standard methodologies and formulas. Agreement was assessed following the Bland-Altman method. To assess repeatability, both techniques were repeated on the same day in a subset of patients.

RESULTS

Excellent agreement was reported between acid output (95% limits of agreement, -1.27 to 1.61 mEq/h) and acid concentration (95% limits of agreement, -0.01 to 0.01 mEq/mL), although poor agreement was observed between volume output measured. Endoscopic gastric analysis showed greater reproducibility regarding acid and volume output measured.

CONCLUSIONS

We introduce a new, rapid, reproducible, and accurate endoscopic technique to measure acid output in patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome who require both annual endoscopy and gastric analysis. The data presented here suggest that endoscopic gastric analysis would be equally effective in determining acid output in other hypersecretory states. Additional analysis of cost effectiveness is needed to evaluate its use as a screening tool in select populations.

Serum gastrin in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome: II. Prospective study of gastrin provocative testing in 293 patients from the National Institutes of Health and comparison with 537 cases from the literature. evaluation of diagnostic criteria, proposal of new criteria, and correlations with clinical and tumoral features

In two-thirds of patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES), fasting serum gastrin (FSG) levels overlap with values seen in other conditions. In these patients, gastrin provocative tests are needed to establish the diagnosis of ZES. Whereas numerous gastrin provocative tests have been proposed, only the secretin, calcium, and meal tests are widely used today. Many studies have analyzed gastrin provocative test results in ZES, but they are limited by small patient numbers and methodologic differences. To address this issue, we report the results of a prospective National Institutes of Health (NIH) study of gastrin provocative tests in 293 patients with ZES and compare these data with those from 537 ZES and 462 non-ZES patients from the literature. In 97%-99% of gastrinoma patients, an increase in serum gastrin post secretin (Delta secretin) or post calcium (Delta calcium) occurred. In NIH ZES patients with <10-fold increase in FSG, the sensitivity/specificity of the widely used criteria were as follows: Delta secretin > or =200 pg/mL (83%/100%), Delta secretin >50% (86%/93%), Delta calcium > or =395 pg/mL (54%/100%), and Delta calcium >50% (78%/83%). A systematic analysis of the sensitivity and specificity of other possible criteria for a positive secretin or calcium test allowed us to identify a new criterion for secretin testing (Delta > or =120 pg/mL) with the highest sensitivity/specificity (94%/100%) and to confirm the commonly used criterion for calcium tests (Delta > or =395 pg/mL) (62%/100%). This analysis further showed that the secretin test was more sensitive than the calcium test (94% vs. 62%). Our results suggest that secretin stimulation should be used as the first-line provocative test because of its greater sensitivity and simplicity and lack of side effects. In ZES patients with a negative secretin test, 38%-50% have a positive calcium test. Therefore the calcium test should be considered in patients with a strong clinical suspicion of ZES but a negative secretin test. Furthermore, we found that some clinical (diarrhea, duration of medical treatment), laboratory (basal acid output), and tumoral (size, extent) characteristics correlate with the serum gastrin increase post secretin and post calcium. However, using the proposed criteria, the result of these provocative tests (that is, positive or negative) is minimally influenced by these factors, so secretin and calcium provocative tests are reliable in patients with different clinical, laboratory, and tumor characteristics. A systematic analysis of meal testing showed that 54%-77% of ZES patients have a <50% postprandial serum gastrin increase. However, 9%-20% of ZES patients had a >100% increase post meal, causing significant overlap with antral syndromes. Furthermore, we could not confirm the usefulness of meal tests for localization of duodenal gastrinomas. We conclude that the secretin test is a crucial element in the diagnosis of most ZES patients, the calcium test may be useful in selected patients, but the meal test is not helpful in the management of ZES. For secretin testing, the criterion with the highest sensitivity and specificity is an increase of > or =120 pg/mL, which should replace other criteria commonly used today.

Serum gastrin in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome: I. Prospective study of fasting serum gastrin in 309 patients from the National Institutes of Health and comparison with 2229 cases from the literature

The assessment of fasting serum gastrin (FSG) is essential for the diagnosis and management of patients with the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES). Although many studies have analyzed FSG levels in patients with gastrinoma, limited information has resulted from these studies because of their small size, different methodologies, and lack of correlations of FSG levels with clinical, laboratory, or tumor features in ZES patients. To address this issue, we report the results of a prospective National Institutes of Health (NIH) study of 309 patients with ZES and compare our results with those of 2229 ZES patients in 513 small series and case reports in the literature. In the NIH and literature ZES patients, normal FSG values were uncommon (0.3%-3%), as were very high FSG levels >100-fold normal (4.9%-9%). Two-thirds of gastrinoma patients had FSG values <10-fold normal that overlap with gastrin levels seen in more common conditions, like Helicobacter pylori infection or antral G-cell hyperplasia/hyperfunction. In these patients, FSG levels are not diagnostic of ZES, and gastrin provocative tests are needed to establish the diagnosis. Most clinical variables (multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 status, presence or absence of the most common symptoms, prior medical treatment) are not correlated with FSG levels, while a good correlation of FSG values was found with other clinical features (prior gastric surgery, diarrhea, duration from onset to diagnosis). Increasing basal acid output, but not maximal acid output correlated closely with increasing FSG. Numerous tumoral features correlated with the magnitude of FSG in our study, including tumor location (pancreatic > duodenal), primary size (larger > smaller) and extent (liver metastases > local disease). In conclusion, this detailed analysis of FSG in a large number of patients with ZES allowed us to identify important clinical guidelines that should contribute to improved diagnosis and management of patients with ZES.

Gastrinoma: sporadic and familial disease

The physiologic sequelae of a gastrinoma can be well controlled with medical therapy. The role of surgery has shifted from managing acid hyper-secretion and ulcer complications to preventing metastatic disease and managing symptomatic metastases. With improved methods of imaging for the detection of occult gastrinomas, the prospective evaluation of the role for surgery in altering the natural history of these tumors is now possible.

Hyperplastic polyposis and cancer of the colon with gastrinoma of the duodenum

BACKGROUND

A 64-year-old woman presented to the emergency room with a 3-month history of intermittent abdominal cramps, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and decreased bowel movements consistent with a partial intestinal obstruction. She had a 12-year history of peptic ulcers, which had been treated with histamine-2 blockers.

INVESTIGATIONS

Physical examination, abdominal X-ray, abdominal CT scan, colonoscopy and assessment of gastrin levels.

DIAGNOSIS

Duodenal neuroendocrine neoplasm showing gastrin expression and stage III (T3N2M0), poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the cecum arising from hyperplastic polyposis.

MANAGEMENT

Right-sided hemicolectomy with ileocolonic anastomosis, duodenal resection, leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy, annual colonoscopic surveillance, and polypectomy.

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.

Pancreatectomy in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1-related gastrinomas and pancreatic endocrine neoplasias

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of pancreatic resection in pancreatic endocrine neoplasias (PENs) in patients affected by multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) syndrome.

BACKGROUND

Since these tumors often show an indolent course, the role of diagnostic procedures and type of surgical approach are controversial. Experience with new diagnostic approaches and more aggressive surgery is still limited.

METHODS

Sixteen MEN1 patients were referred to our Surgical Unit (1992-2003) and were operated on for the indications of hypergastrinism, hypoglycemia, and/or pancreatic endocrine neoplasias larger than 1 cm. Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) was present in 13 patients, 2 of whom experienced a recurrence after previous surgery. Preoperative tumor localization was carried out using ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SSRS), or selective arterial secretin injection (SASI). Rapid intraoperative gastrin measurement (IGM) was carried out in 8 patients, and 1 patient also underwent an intraoperative secretin provocative test.

RESULTS

Either pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) or total pancreatectomy (TP) or distal pancreatectomy was performed. There was no postoperative mortality; 37% complications included pancreatic (27%) and biliary (6%) fistulas, abdominal collection (6%), and acute pancreatitis (6%). EUS and SSRS were the most sensitive preoperative imaging techniques. At follow-up, 10 of 13 hypergastrinemic patients (77%) are currently eugastrinemic with negative secretin provocative test, while 3 are showing a recurrence of the disease. All patients affected by insulinoma were cured.

CONCLUSIONS

MEN1 tumors should be considered surgically curable diseases. IGM may be of value in the assessment of surgical cure. Our experience suggests that PD is superior to less radical surgical approaches in providing cure with limited morbidity in MEN1 gastrinomas and pancreatic neoplasias.