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Outcome and CT differentiation of gallbladder neuroendocrine tumours from adenocarcinomas

  • Gastrointestinal
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Abstract

Objectives

To retrospectively investigate clinical outcome and differential CT features of gallbladder (GB) neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) from adenocarcinomas (ADCs).

Materials and methods

Nineteen patients with poorly-differentiated (PD) NETs and 19 patients with PD ADCs were enrolled. Clinical outcome was compared by the Kaplan-Meier method. We assessed qualitative and quantitative CT features to identify significant differential CT features of PD NETs from ADCs using univariate and multivariate analyses. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used for quantitative CT features.

Results

PD NETs showed poorer prognosis with significantly shorter median survival days than ADCs (363 vs. 590 days, P = 0.03). On univariate analysis, NETs more frequently manifested as GB-replacing type and showed well-defined margins accompanied with intact overlying mucosa. On multivariate analysis, well-defined margin was the sole significant CT differentiator (odds ratio = 27.817, P = 0.045). Maximum size of hepatic and lymph node (LN) metastases was significantly larger in NETs (11.0 cm and 4.62 cm) than ADCs (2.40 cm and 2.41 cm). Areas under ROC curves for tumour-to-mucosa ratio, maximum size of hepatic and LN metastasis were 0.772, 0.932 and 0.919, respectively (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

GB PD NETs show poorer prognosis than ADCs. Well-defined margin, larger hepatic and LN metastases are useful CT differentiators of GB NETs from ADCs.

Key Points

• A well-defined margin is a useful CT differentiator of GB NETs from ADCs.

• Hepatic and LN metastases are significantly larger in NETs than in ADCs.

• Primary tumour and hepatic metastasis of NETs are more hyperattenuated than ADCs.

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Abbreviations

ADCs:

Adenocarcinomas

CT:

Computed tomography

GB:

Gallbladder

LNs:

Lymph nodes

NETs:

Neuroendocrine tumours

PD:

Poorly-differentiated

WD:

Well-differentiated

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Acknowledgments

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Joon Koo Han. The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies, whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article. This study received funding from the Seoul National Hospital Research Funding (Fund No. 04-2015-620). No complex statistical methods were necessary for this paper. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained. Written informed consent was waived by the Institutional Review Board. Methodology: Retrospective, diagnostic or prognostic study, performed at one institution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea

    Tae-Hyung Kim, Se Hyung Kim & Joon Koo Han

  2. Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital and Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehangno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Korea

    Se Hyung Kim

  3. Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Se Hyung Kim & Joon Koo Han

  4. Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea

    Kyoung Boon Lee

  5. Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Korea

    Joon Koo Han

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  1. Tae-Hyung Kim
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  2. Se Hyung Kim
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Correspondence to Se Hyung Kim.

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Kim, TH., Kim, S.H., Lee, K.B. et al. Outcome and CT differentiation of gallbladder neuroendocrine tumours from adenocarcinomas. Eur Radiol 27, 507–517 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-016-4394-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-016-4394-3

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