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The plan for cancer treatment depends on where the NET is found in the pancreas and whether it has spread.
Source: Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (Islet Cell Tumors) Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: October 7, 2022 · Captured 2026-09-09.
Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Independent clinical review is pending.
The process used to find out if cancer has spread within the pancreas or to other parts of the body is called staging. The results of the tests and procedures used to diagnose pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are also used to find out whether the cancer has spread. See the General Information section for a description of these tests and procedures.
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Although there is a standard staging system for pancreatic NETs, it is not used to plan treatment. Treatment of pancreatic NETs is based on the following:
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Whether the cancer is found in one place in the pancreas.
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Whether the cancer is found in several places in the pancreas.
Whether the cancer has spread to lymph nodes near the pancreas or to other parts of the body such as the liver, lung, peritoneum, or bone.
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Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice