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Purpose: Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNENs) are rare, and their surgical management is complex. This study evaluated the current practice of pNEN surgery across Germany, including its adherence with guidelines and its perioperative outcomes. Methods: Patients who underwent surgery for pNENs (April 2013–June 2017) were retrieved from the prospective StuDoQ|Pancreas registry of the German Society of General and Visceral Surgery and retrospectively analyzed. Results: A total of 287 patients (53.7% male) with a mean age of 59.2 ± 14.2 years old underwent pancreatic resection for pNENs. Tumors were localized in the pancreatic head (40.4%), body (23%), or tail (36.6%). A total of 239 (83.3%) patients underwent formal resection with lymphadenectomy, 40 (14%) parenchyma-sparing resection, and 8 (2.8%) only exploration. Fifty (17.4%) patients underwent a minimally invasive approach. Among the 245 patients with complete pathological information, 42 (17.1%) had distant metastases, 78 (31.8%) had stage I tumors, 74 (30.2%) stage II, and 51 (20.8%) stage III. A total of 112 (45.7%) patients had G1 tumors, 101 (41.2%) G2, and 24 (9.8%) G3. Nodal involvement on imaging was an independent predictor of lymph node metastasis according to the multivariable analysis (odds ratio: 0.057; 95% confidence interval: 0.016–0.209; p < 0.01). R0 resection was reported in 240 (83.6%) patients. The 30- and 90-day mortality rates were 2.8% and 4.2%, respectively. Conclusion: In Germany the rate of potential curative resection for pNEN is high. However, formal pancreatic resection seems to be overrepresented, while minimally invasive resection is underrepresented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of Stage 1 of the FNI project GEOHydrate is to prove the hypothesis that gas hydrates deposits (GHDs) create measurable temperature and heat flow (T&HF) anomalies on the seafloor. We use a PetroMod™ model for 98 Ma basin analysis of the Western Black Sea basin, developed in GEOMAR, FRG. The model was run 2 times - with and without GH formation. The resultant difference of the heat flows on the seabed shows average heat flow anomaly above GHDs of 7 mW/m² and a maximum of 15 mW/m². [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare health-related quality of life (QoL) before and after surgery for pancreatic disease. Methods: A retrospective analysis of prospectively gathered data is presented. A total of 174 patients of 230 planned for pancreatic surgery between March and December 2009 at a German high-volume center completed the Short Form-36 (SF-36) Health Survey preoperatively, 133 of them at 3 months and 83 at 24 months after surgery. Data was analysed according to diagnosis and procedure, and compared to German population norms. Results: QoL in the study group was worse than that of age-matched healthy population at all time points. It decreased continuously in the cancer group, decreased early and showed a trend toward recovery late in patients with benign tumors and chronic pancreatitis. Distal pancreatectomy was the best tolerated and total pancreatectomy the worst tolerated procedure. Older age and development of pancreatic insufficiency affected negatively QoL. Conclusions: In patients with pancreatic disease, diagnosis determined QoL preoperatively and late after surgery, while in the early postoperative period, type and extent of surgery was the leading factor. Total pancreatectomy had a profound negative effect on QoL and should be reserved for carefully selected patients only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]