Solid pseudopapillary tumour of the pancreas in children: clinical and computed tomography manifestation

Case report: Retroperitoneal solid pseudopapillary neoplasm associated with multiple hepatic metastases

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) is a rare tumor mostly occurring in the pancreas. They are low-grade malignant tumors of the exocrine pancreas that occasionally metastasize, usually to the liver or peritoneum. Additionally, multiple metastases of extrapancreatic SPN to the liver are extremely rare and have been reported before. This study presents a case of a 13-year-old male patient with retroperitoneal SPN and multiple hepatic metastases. The patient presented with abdominal trauma and underwent enhanced CT, which revealed upper pancreatic occupancy and three hypodense foci in the right lobe of the liver. Moreover, increased spleen size was noted. The patient's serum tumor marker CA125 was increased to 39.00 U/mL (N < 35.0 U/mL), and circulating tumor cells were elevated to 10.2 FU/3 mL (N < 8.7 FU/3 mL). The patient underwent retroperitoneal occupancy resection and splenectomy, followed by resection of liver metastases 7 months after the surgery. Furthermore, multiple liver metastases from retroperitoneal SPN were confirmed postoperatively. The patient recovered for 1 year without tumor recurrence. This case emphasizes the importance of evaluating serum tumor markers and medical imaging in young patients as well as the fact that surgery appears to be the preferred treatment option for multiple metastases in SPN.

Pseudopapillary solid tumour of the pancreas in paediatric age: description of a case report and review of the literature

Pseudopapillary solid tumour of the pancreas is a rare neoplasm that mainly affects young women in the second and third decade of life and less frequently children; originates from the exocrine component of the pancreas; and is characterized by slow growth, low potential for malignancy, and excellent prognosis following complete surgical resection. The tumour often presents as an asymptomatic abdominal mass that is accidentally detected during radiological investigations performed for other reasons. In this article, we report the clinical case of a 10-year-old girl who came to our observation for pain in the left hypochondrium, which had arisen for a week following a trauma; the imaging methods revealed a voluminous expansive pancreatic formation in the abdomen; on histological examination, the mass was a solid pseudopapillary tumour. Furthermore, we present a review of the literature aimed at highlighting the salient features of this neoplasm in paediatric age.

Clinical Phase I/II Study: Local Disease Control and Survival in Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Treated with Electrochemotherapy

Objective. To assess local disease control rates (LDCR) and overall survival (OS) in locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) treated with electrochemotherapy (ECT). Methods. Electrochemotherapy with bleomycin was performed in 25 LAPC patients who underwent baseline Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and/or Computed Tomography (CT) and Position Emission Tomography (PET) scans before ECT and 1 and 6 months post ECT. LDCR were assessed using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST 1.1) and Choi criteria. Needle electrodes with fixed linear (N-30-4B) or fixed hexagonal configurations (N-30-HG or I-40-HG or H-30-ST) or variable geometry (VGD1230 or VGD1240) (IGEA S.p.A., Carpi, Italy) were used to apply electric pulses. Pain evaluation was performed pre-ECT, after 1 month and after 6 months with ECT. Overall survival estimates were calculated by means of a Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results. At 1 month after ECT, 76% of patients were in partial response (PR) and 20% in stable disease (SD). Six months after ECT, 44.0% patients were still in PR and 12.0% in SD. A LDCR of 56.0% was reached six months after ECT: 13 patients treated with fixed geometry had a LDCR of 46.1%, while for the 12 patients treated with variable geometry, the LDCR was 66.7%. The overall survival median value was 11.5 months: for patients treated with fixed geometry the OS was 6 months, while for patients treated with variable geometry it was 12 months. Electrochemotherapy was well-tolerated and abdominal pain was rapidly resolved. Conclusions. Electrochemotherapy obtained good results in terms of LDCR and OS in LAPC. Multiple needle insertion in a variable geometry configuration optimized by pre-treatment planning determined an increase in LDCR and OS compared to a fixed geometry configuration.

Differential diagnosis of pancreatoblastoma (PB) and solid pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPNs) in children by CT and MR imaging

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether features on computed tomographic and/or magnetic resonance imaging can differentiate pancreatoblastoma (PB) from solid pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPNs) of the pancreas in children.

METHODS

Clinical and imaging data for 20 cases of SPNs and 14 cases of PB confirmed by surgery or biopsy were retrospectively analysed. The size, border, calcification, haemorrhage, solid/cystic component proportion, intratumoural vessels, tumour capsulation, pancreatic duct dilatation, peripancreatic vessel invasion, distant metastasis status and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the two groups were examined, and key diagnostic features were identified. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test and Student's t test. Sensitivity and specificity values were calculated when a single criterion was used.

RESULTS

Age ≤ 5 years, elevated serum α-fetoprotein (AFP), larger size, ill-defined border, calcification, absence of haemorrhage, intratumoural vessel, peripancreatic vessel invasion and distant metastasis differentiated PB from SPN (p < 0.05). ADC values of SPN were higher than those of PB (p = 0.001). There were no significant differences regarding tumour capsule (p = 0.435), pancreatic duct dilatation (p = 1.000) or cystic degeneration area over 50% of the tumour volume (p = 1.000) between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The following features are helpful for differentiating PB from SPN: age ≤ 5 years, elevated serum AFP, larger size, ill-defined border, calcification, haemorrhage absence, intratumoural vessel, peripancreatic vessel invasion, distant metastasis and lower ADC value.

KEY POINTS

• CT and MRI are helpful to differentiate pancreatoblastoma (PB) from solid pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPNs) of the pancreas in children. • The following features are helpful to differentiate PB from SPN: age ≤ 5 years, elevated serum AFP, larger size, ill-defined border, calcification, absence of haemorrhage, intratumoural vessel, peripancreatic vessel invasion, distant metastasis and lower ADC value.

Traumatic rupture of solid pseudopapillary tumors of the pancreas in children: A case report

Solid pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) of the pancreas is a pathological entity rarely encountered in children. Despite its malignant characteristics, SPT has a favorable clinical prognosis. This tumor is more frequently observed in females and is commonly localized in the tail and body of the pancreas. This is the case report of a 9-year-old female patient who presented with severe abdominal pain of sudden onset and vomiting following blunt abdominal trauma. Upon physical examination, abdominal distension, tenderness and abdominal guarding were detected. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass sized 8×9×12 cm in the pancreas, with hemorrhagic-necrotic areas, and abundant intra-abdominal fluid. Intra-abdominal exploration confirmed the presence of an abundant amount of intraperitoneal hemorrhagic fluid. A mass was identified, originating from the body and the tail of the pancreas, adherent to the mesentery of the colon and the hilum of the spleen, which had ruptured in its inferolateral side. The tumor was extirpated together with the spleen and the involved parts of the pancreas. Histopathological examination demonstrated a solid pseudopapillary tumor of pancreatic origin. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, clinically as well as metabolically.

Solid pseudopapillary tumour of the pancreas: distinct patterns of computed tomography manifestation for male versus female patients

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively assess the features of computed tomography (CT) images and clinical characteristics of male patients with solid pseudopapillary tumours (SPTs) and compare them with those of female patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Computed tomography images and clinical data of 102 patients with pathologically proven SPTs were reviewed. Details of the location, diameter, shape, encapsulation, calcification, internal composition, CT attenuation, and enhancement pattern of tumours were noted. Statistical analysis was performed using the χ (2) and t tests.

RESULTS

Data from 16 males and 86 females were collected. Males were significantly older than females (38.5 years vs. 28.7 years; P = 0.004). Except for mean age, no significant statistical difference was observed between the clinical factors of SPTs in males and females. The mean tumour size in males was significantly smaller than that in females (5.3 vs. 7.6 cm; P = 0.037). Solid tumours were more common in males (8/16; 50 %) than in females (5/86; 5.8 %; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The imaging features of SPTs of males are different from those of females. In males, the finding of small, prominently solid tumours showing enhancement patterns typical of SPTs may suggest a diagnosis of SPT.