Overview

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET) are a group of cancers that can occur in the hormone-producing cells of the pancreas. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, also known as islet cell cancers, are very rare.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors begin in small hormone-producing cells (islet cells) normally found in your pancreas.

Some pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor cells continue to secrete hormones (known as functional tumors), creating too much of the given hormone in your body. Examples of these types include gastrinoma and glucagonoma.

Many times these tumors do not secrete an excess amount of these hormones (known as nonfunctional tumors).