The prognostic impact of primary tumor resection in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors with synchronous multifocal liver metastases

Abstract Background Whether primary tumor resection benefits patients with synchronous multifocal liver metastases from pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors remains controversial. We investigated whether primary tumor resection significantly affects survival in this study. Methods A retrospective study of patients with synchronous multifocal liver metastases from pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors between 1998 and 2016 was performed. Patient demographics, operation details, adjuvant treatment, and pathological and survival information were collected, and relevant clinical-pathological parameters were assessed in univariate and multivariate survival analyses. Results Sixty-three patients were included in this study, including 35 who underwent primary tumor resection. The median survival time and 5-year survival rate of this cohort were 50 months and 44.5%, respectively. Median survival time in the resected group was significantly longer at 72 months than that of 32 months in the nonresected group (p = 0.010). Multivariate analysis showed that primary tumor surgery was a significant independent prognostic factor (HR 0.312, 95% CI: 0.128–0.762, p = 0.011). Conclusions Primary tumor resection significantly benefits patients with synchronous multifocal liver metastases from pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.