Key Statistics for Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (pNETs)
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) are rare. Less than 2% of all cancers found in the pancreas each year are pNETs.
The number of pNETs diagnosed each year; however, has been rising over time. This is thought to be partly because they are being found more often incidentally (by accident), when imaging tests such as CT or MRI scans of the abdomen are done for other reasons. The ability to distinguish these tumors from other types of cancers in the lab has also improved, leading to more of them being diagnosed.
Most people with pNETs are older, with the average age at diagnosis being 60.
For statistics related to survival, see Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Survival Rates by Stage.
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- References
Developed by the American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
American Joint Committee on Cancer. Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Pancreas. AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 8th ed. New York, NY: Springer; 2017.
Das S, Dasari A. Epidemiology, Incidence, and Prevalence of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: Are There Global Differences? Curr Oncol Rep. 2021 Mar 14;23(4):43. doi: 10.1007/s11912-021-01029-7. PMID: 33719003; PMCID: PMC8118193.
National Cancer Institute. Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (Islet Cell Tumors) Treatment (PDQ?). 8/19/22. Accessed at https://www.cancer.gov/types/pancreatic/hp/pnet-treatment-pdq on August 4, 2024.
Last Revised: March 29, 2025
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