Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are caused by certain changes in how pancreatic cells function, especially how they grow and divide into new cells. Often, the exact cause of cell changes that lead to a pancreatic NET is unknown. Learn more about how cancer develops at What Is Cancer?
A risk factor is anything that increases the chance of getting a disease. Some risk factors for pancreatic NETs, like using tobacco, can be changed. Risk factors also include things people cannot change, like their genetics and family history. Learning about risk factors for pancreatic NETs can help you make choices that might lower your risk of getting it.
Risk factors for pancreatic NETs include:
- family history of pancreatic NETs or any cancer
- type 2 diabetes
- smoking
- chronic pancreatitis (long-term inflammation of the pancreas)
Certain inherited genetic conditions or syndromes can also increase a person’s risk of pancreatic NETs, but most pancreatic NETs occur in people without inherited genetic syndromes. Inherited conditions or syndromes linked to pancreatic NETs include:
- multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) syndrome
- von Hippel-Lindau syndrome
- neurofibromatosis type 1
- tuberous sclerosis
Learn more about genetic testing and counseling for people with pancreatic NETs at Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Diagnosis.