Prognosis

Prognosis is dependent on tumour stage and the presence and severity of metastasis at diagnosis. Resection is associated with superior survival.[1][63]​​ However, neuroendocrine tumour survival data are limited because of low incidence.[64]

VIPomas are slow-growing tumours, therefore survival outcomes are relatively good, even for patients with metastatic disease. Based on US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data (2009-2016), the median overall survival for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours, including VIPoma, was 85 months.[7]

Localised disease

Complete surgical extirpation of VIPoma results in a >90% 5-year survival.[1] However, <50% of patients have localised disease at the time of diagnosis.[39]

Metastatic disease

The majority of patients with VIPoma will have distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis (>50%).[39] These tumours are slow-growing and characteristically have scant mitosis. The only method by which malignancy is diagnosed is by identification of tumour cells in lymph nodes or distant sites. In one retrospective study of 241 cases for VIPoma, the 5-year survival for patients with metastatic disease exceeded 60%.[1]

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