Epidermoid splenic cyst occurring in an intrapancreatic accessory spleen

Epithelial splenic cysts in an intrapancreatic accessory spleen and spleen

A rare case of cysts simultaneously occurring in the intrapancreatic accessory spleen and spleen in a 49-year-old female is reported. The patient underwent distal pancreatomy for a cystic tumor of the pancreas, and a splenectomy. A multilocular cyst (4.3 x 2.6 cm) in an accessory spleen at the pancreas tail, and a solitary cyst (1.2 x 0.9 cm) of the spleen were found. The cyst in the intrapancreatic accessory spleen was lined by non-keratinizing stratified squamous epithelium, and the spleen cyst by a single layer of flat epithelium; these lining cells were positive for Alcian blue stain and periodic acid-Schiff reaction, and were immunohistochemically positive for cytokeratin, HBME-1 and Sialyl-Tn. Epithelial membrane antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen and CA19-9 were positive in the accessory spleen cyst but were negative in the spleen cyst. An electron microscopic examination of the flat epithelium of the spleen cyst revealed numerous microvilli on the surface, cytoplasmic microfilaments, and a number of tight junctions between adjacent cells. These features suggested that the two cysts differ in nature, and origin; the accessory spleen cyst may be an embryonic inclusion of the pancreas duct while the spleen cyst may be an inclusion cyst of the mesothelium.

Epidermoid cyst of the spleen with CA19-9 or carcinoembryonic antigen productions: report of three cases

True splenic cyst is a relatively rare disease, and the majority of the cases are classified as epidermoid cysts. Three cases of epidermoid cysts in the spleen or accessory spleen were studied using an immunohistochemical technique and staining for mucin. In case 1, serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CA19-9, and in cases 2 and 3, serum CA19-9, before surgery were markedly elevated, and these levels decreased postoperatively. This strongly indicates the relationship between the increase of tumor marker levels and the presence of the epidermoid cyst. In addition, stratified squamous epithelium in the resected tissues of cases 1 and 2 was positive for anti-CEA antibody and anti-CA19-9 antibody, and that of case 3 was positive for anti-CA19-9 antibody. This strongly supports CEA or CA19-9 production in the squamous epithelium.

Lymphoepithelial cyst of the pancreas: a preoperatively diagnosed case based on an aspiration biopsy

This paper reports an extremely rare case of lymphoepithelial cyst of the pancreas. The patient, a 58-year-old man with no subjective symptoms, was found to have a pancreatic tumor during a physical examination. He visited our clinic and was admitted for a follow-up examination. Based on the ultrasonographic findings, superselective angiography, and aspiration biopsy, an epidermoid cyst was diagnosed. Enucleation was easily performed. Macroscopically, this cyst resembled an atheroma. Histologically, the cavity of the cyst was lined with a squamous epithelium with a nucleated layer and below that, lymphatic tissue. No malignancy was found. Tumors of the pancreas with a squamous epithelial covering are extremely rare; only a few such cases have been reported in the literature. As of 1991, only 12 cases, including the present case, had been reported. With the advances in diagnostic techniques, the detection of pancreatic tumors is expected to improve. This paper reports a case in which the use of an aspiration biopsy and superselective angiography proved to be useful in making an accurate diagnosis.

A comprehensive characterization of lymphoepithelial cyst associated with the pancreas

BACKGROUND

Lymphoepithelial cyst of the pancreas is a rare but distinctive cystic lesion lined by a mature, keratinizing squamous epithelium and surrounded by lymphoid tissue.

METHODS

To gain more insights into this entity, we describe 5 examples of lymphoepithelial cyst of the pancreas (2 of which were briefly described before) and compare them with similar cases in the literature for a total of 19 cases.

RESULTS

The male:female ratio was 16:3; patients' ages ranged from 32 to 73 years (mean and median 51). The lymphoepithelial cyst was incidentally found at autopsy in 4 patients (21%) or during evaluation for unrelated diseases in another 4 patients (21%). In the remaining 11 patients, the cyst was associated with abdominal pain in 9 (47% of all patients), nausea/vomiting in 3 (16%), diarrhea in 1 (5%), and nonspecific systemic symptoms in 6 (32%) (some patients had more than 1 associated symptom). Computed axial tomography scan, with or without ultrasonographic study, was done in 16 cases and uniformly displayed a single, well-circumscribed, cystic mass protruding beyond the surface of the pancreas; the rest of the pancreas was normal. Intraoperatively, the cyst was readily apparent once the lesser sac was entered and the surface of the pancreas exposed; the cyst was located at the head (3 cases), neck (1 case), body (6 cases), and tail (9 cases). Surgery was done for all 15 clinical cases and included local excision of the cyst with a thin rim of attached, underlying pancreas (6 cases), or distal pancreatectomy with (4 cases) or without (3 cases) splenectomy. Follow-up information, available in 7 cases, showed that all symptoms disappeared and the patients were alive and well up to 6 years after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

This rare cyst of the pancreas has a uniform and characteristic clinicopathologic profile, enabling easy and accurate diagnosis. Although the histogenesis of lymphoepithelial cysts is not known, they are benign and can be cured by local excision.

Epithelial inclusion cysts in an intrapancreatic accessory spleen

A 38 year old male underwent distal pancreatectomy for benign cystic pancreatic tumor. The pancreas tail contained a 2.3 x 2.1 cm accessory spleen associated with multiple epithelial inclusion cysts. The cysts were of varying sizes (max: 1.4 cm), lined by non-keratinizing squamous epithelium with a few mucin-producing cells, and filled with serous material. This is the fifth reported case of so-called 'epidermoid' cysts in the intrapancreatic accessory spleen.

Epidermoid cyst derived from an accessory spleen in the pancreas. A case report with literature survey

A rare case of splenic epidermoid cyst (SEC) of the pancreas discovered in a 32-year-old Japanese female is reported. The lesion, 5 x 6 cm in size including caseous material and serous fluid in the lumen, was discovered by ultrasonography and computed tomography at the tail of the pancreas and was easily removed. Histopathologically, the cystic wall consisted of three components: the inside was lined by mature squamous epithelium with keratinization, the middle layer consisted of splenic pulp with a sinus structure, and the peripheral layer was dense fibrous connective tissue in which some involutional pancreatic ducts and islets were recognized. The literature about SEC of the pancreas is discussed in comparison with other types of epidermoid cyst including lymphoepithelial cyst and dermoid cyst in the pancreas.

Mesodermal cyst of the spleen: computed tomographic characteristics and pathogenetic considerations

A large nonparasitic, non-neoplastic, benign cyst of the spleen in a 24-year-old woman was diagnosed by conventional radiography, radionuclide scintigraphy, and computed tomography. Round contour, sharp margins, and homogenous content of low attenuation value are characteristic computed tomographic features. The histologic study of the cyst and information obtained from the literature provide evidence to support the hypothesis that the cyst develops from an embryonal rest of the primitive coelomic mesothelial cells in the spleen. Mesodermal cyst is therefore a more appropriate designation for such a cyst.