ASO Author Reflections: Serum Elastase 1 Level as a Risk Factor for Postoperative Recurrence in Patients with Well-Differentiated Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms

Excerpt

Well-differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PanNETs) are heterogeneous in terms of pathology and biology, and their clinical course varies widely.1 Complete resection is the cornerstone of clinical management of patients with PanNETs;2 however, prediction of recurrence after complete resection is still difficult. One of the most widely accepted prognostic factors is the World Health Organization (WHO) histological grading scheme; however, tissue sampling is necessary for this grading, and accurate preoperative assessment of malignancy risk is generally difficult. Preoperative imaging findings have also been used for assessment of malignancy risks;3 however, they are still incomplete to determine aggressive clinical behavior in terms of simplicity or objectivity. Alternative strategies for risk classification in the clinical setting are needed. …