← Issue №4/ week of Jul 26, 2026/Endoscopy

Sampling performance of EUS-Guided fine-needle biopsy in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

From GI Signals issue №4: what this paper found, what it changes, and where it sits against the current standard of care, reviewed by Simon Mathews, MD.

Endoscopy meta analysis · n=846 · Jul 24, 2026 · Pancreatology · IF 3.0

Sampling performance of EUS-Guided fine-needle biopsy in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

New evidencemeta-analysisEUSbiomarkersystematic review
Clinical takeawayConsider using EUS-guided FNB over FNA for suspected PNETs when histological and Ki-67 assessment is needed, with preference for the Sharkcore needle if available, acknowledging moderate to high risk of bias and low certainty of evidence.
What it foundFNB achieves high adequacy and Ki-67 assessment rates compared to FNA
ContextRefines current practice by providing comparative data supporting FNB over FNA for PNETs, though evidence certainty is limited.
Reinforcessuggested applicable standard· National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Neuroendocrine and Adrenal Tumors (current Version 1.2026 / Version 2.2025; peer-reviewed published edition Version 2.2021, criteria unchanged), J Natl Compr Canc Netw 2021

Decision at stakeusing EUS-guided biopsy for tissue acquisition in suspected PNETs

Per NCCN Neuroendocrine and Adrenal Tumors v2.2025: Work up a suspected pancreatic NET with multiphasic pancreatic-protocol contrast CT and/or MRI; consider EUS with biopsy (FNB) for tissue; use somatostatin-receptor imaging with 68Ga- or 64Cu-DOTATATE PET/CT when it will change management.

From our summary of this standard, unedited — the part the paper bears on. marks omitted text. Our wording, not the guideline's; read the source for its own text.

Our full summary of this standard

Per NCCN Neuroendocrine and Adrenal Tumors v2.2025: Work up a suspected pancreatic NET with multiphasic pancreatic-protocol contrast CT and/or MRI; consider EUS with biopsy (FNB) for tissue; use somatostatin-receptor imaging with 68Ga- or 64Cu-DOTATATE PET/CT when it will change management. Obtain biochemical/hormonal evaluation only when a functional syndrome is clinically suspected (not routine for nonfunctioning tumors). Grade by mitotic count and Ki-67 under the WHO classification of neuroendocrine neoplasms (G1 <3%, G2 3-20%, G3 >20%). Consider genetics referral/germline testing for inherited syndromes, principally MEN1 and VHL (less commonly NF1, TSC). LOCALIZED well-differentiated G1/G2: for an incidentally found sporadic nonfunctioning tumor <=2 cm without high-risk features, that is, none of the worrisome imaging/pathologic features that favor resection: main pancreatic-duct dilation (>3 mm) or biliary-duct obstruction, pathologic regional lymphadenopathy on cross-sectional imaging, or vascular encasement/invasion of adjacent structures (grade, functional/symptomatic status, size >2 cm, and interval growth are addressed separately below), NCCN lists BOTH observation and surgery as options; observed lesions are followed with multiphasic CT/MRI (± SSTR-PET as indicated) at 3-12 months, then every 6-12 months if stable. For tumors >2 cm, functional/symptomatic, higher-grade, or enlarging on surveillance, surgical resection (enucleation, distal pancreatectomy, or pancreaticoduodenectomy by location) is recommended and can be curative. ADVANCED/METASTATIC well-differentiated: somatostatin analogs (octreotide LAR or lanreotide) are a preferred first-line option for SSTR-positive, lower-grade/lower-proliferation tumors. 177Lu-DOTATATE PRRT is now also a first-line option for SSTR-positive disease on the strength of NETTER-2, whose population was newly diagnosed grade 2/3 GEP-NET with Ki-67 10-55% (median PFS 22.8 vs 8.5 months), keep the Ki-67 10-55% window and SSTR-positivity as the qualifiers, not an open-ended 'Ki-67 >=10%.' Subsequent-line options for progressive disease include everolimus, sunitinib (pancreatic primary), CAPTEM (capecitabine + temozolomide), PRRT if not already used, and cabozantinib, FDA-approved March 26, 2025 and included by NCCN as a category 1 option for previously treated, unresectable/locally advanced/metastatic well-differentiated pancreatic NET (the FDA label specifies only 'previously treated,' without a required prior-drug sequence).

National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Neuroendocrine and Adrenal Tumors (current Version 1.2026 / Version 2.2025; peer-reviewed published edition Version 2.2021, criteria unchanged), J Natl Compr Canc Netw 2021 · reviewed 2026-07-23 ↗
Millan-Alanis JM … Maldonado-Garza HJ · Pancreatology : Official Journal of the International Association of Pancreatology (IAP) .. [et Al.] · IF 3.0 · PubMed ↗Permalink
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