Imaging appearances of metastases from neuroendocrine tumours of the pancreas

Endocrine tumours of the pancreas (ETPs) are rare neoplasms that are freque ntly malignant. Despite their usual slow growth, metastases do occur and ha ve a major impact on prognosis. Metastases may be the first manifestation o f disease, and recognition of particular radiological features of these hyp ervascular metastases should suggest their possible neuroendocrine origin. Although somatostatin receptor scintigraphy has changed the imaging strateg y for these tumours and has become their principal imaging modality, radiol ogical techniques are still required for precise localization of scintigrap hic hot spots and monitoring of response to therapy. This pictorial review shows the typical radiological features of ETP metastases and emphasizes th e role of different imaging modalities.