Pancreas Neuroendocrine Tumor and Its Mimics: Review of Cross-Sectional Imaging Findings for Differential Diagnosis

Abstract

The most common hypervascular neoplasm of the pancreas is neuroendocrine tumor (NET). Microcystic serous cystadenomas, certain metastases, and accessory spleens can also show hypervascularity and can mimic pancreatic NET. It is important to discriminate hypervascular pancreatic lesions because of different treatment option and prognosis. Although computed tomography (CT) is the most common imaging modality for initial identification of pancreatic tumor, CT alone cannot correctly interpret hypervascular pancreatic lesions. Therefore, when a hypervascular tumor in the pancreas is detected on CT, magnetic resonance imaging should be considered. In this essay, I describe imaging features those are helpful for differential diagnosis of NET from other hypervascular lesions in pancreas.