The New World Health Organization Classification for Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasia

Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2018 Sep;47(3):463-470. doi: 10.1016/j.ecl.2018.04.008. Epub 2018 Jul 11.

Abstract

Based on the 2010 version, the 2017 World Health Organization (WHO 2017) classification is for pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PanNEN). The WHO 2017 classification introduces the novel well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor of high grade (NET G3). A sharp distinction between NET and poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) is emphasized to highlight substantial biological differences. Further changes comprise the definition of mixed neuroendocrine non-neuroendocrine neoplasm (MiNEN), to accommodate all grades of both neoplasm components, and the abolition of preneoplastic lesions given their rarity in the pancreas. The 2017 American Joint Cancer Committee classification (AJCC 2017) adopts such a classification for all digestive sites.

Keywords: American Joint Cancer Committee; Ki67; Neuroendocrine carcinoma; Neuroendocrine neoplasm; Neuroendocrine tumor; World Health Organization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / classification*
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / pathology
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / therapy
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / classification*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / therapy
  • Treatment Outcome
  • World Health Organization*