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Ciers P, Vanderhaeghe D, Vansteenkiste F, Moubax K, Vanooteghem S, Vanneste A, Van Moerkercke W. Lymphoepithelial cysts of the pancreas: case report and review of the literature. Acta Chir Belg 2023; 123:550-554. [PMID: 35249466 DOI: 10.1080/00015458.2022.2050032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lymphoepithelial cysts (LECs) of the pancreas are a rare type of true pancreatic cysts and represent an estimated 0.5% of all pancreatic cystic lesions. They are benign lesions and have no malignant potential. However, they are hard to differentiate from malignant lesions because their imaging and clinical presentation vary greatly. Seeing as these are benign lesions which are increasingly found incidentally during imaging for other indications, correct diagnosis is important to prevent unnecessary intervention and morbidity. CASE REPORT We report the case of a 41-year-old female who presented with abdominal discomfort, bloating and dyspepsia. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed a large mass in the left fossa. We describe the diagnostic and therapeutic measures taken in this case. METHODS We reviewed the literature for common features of the LEC. We grouped common imaging and histological features of the LEC of the pancreas to provide easily identifiable characteristics to facilitate diagnosis. For the review, we focused on papers, mostly case reports, presenting these common characteristics. We also reviewed the literature for key topics that should be taken into account when considering therapeutic interventions in a patient with a possible diagnosis of a LEC. CONCLUSION Cysts of the pancreas are increasingly identified due to widespread use and improved resolution of cross-sectional imaging. To obtain the correct diagnosis, it is sometimes necessary to combine advanced imaging, i.e. CT and MRI-imaging, and endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration (EUS/FNA), while CA 19-9 also has diagnostic value. We summarize all diagnostic characteristics in a table for ease of use. Furthermore we summarized possible therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Ciers
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Klinikum Westmunsterland GmbH, Bocholt, Germany
| | | | | | - Kim Moubax
- Department of Gastroenterology, AZ Groeninge, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Sofie Vanooteghem
- Department of Gastroenterology, OLV van Lourdes Hospital, Waregem, Belgium
| | - Alain Vanneste
- Department of Pathological Anatomy, AZ Groeninge, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Wouter Van Moerkercke
- Department of Gastroenterology, AZ Groeninge, Kortrijk, Belgium
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals Leuven, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Groot VP, Thakker SS, Gemenetzis G, Noë M, Javed AA, Burkhart RA, Noveiry BB, Cameron JL, Weiss MJ, VandenBussche CJ, Fishman EK, Hruban RH, Wolfgang CL, Lennon AM, He J. Lessons learned from 29 lymphoepithelial cysts of the pancreas: institutional experience and review of the literature. HPB (Oxford) 2018. [PMID: 29530477 DOI: 10.1016/j.hpb.2018.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lymphoepithelial cysts (LECs) are rare pancreatic cystic lesions. Since LECs are benign, preoperative diagnosis is important to differentiate from a cystic neoplasm and avoid unnecessary surgery. The aim of this study was to identify clinical, radiographic and cytopathologic features associated with LECs. METHODS A retrospective review was performed of patients diagnosed with LEC between 1995 and 2017 at our hospital. Clinicopathologic and radiographic imaging features were documented. RESULTS Of 29 patients with pancreatic LEC, 22 underwent surgical resection. The majority were male (n = 24) with a median age of 55 years (range, 21-74). During the evaluation, all patients underwent a CT, with endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy (n = 22) and/or MRI/MRCP (n = 11) performed in a smaller number of patients. A combination of exophytic tumor growth on imaging and the presence of specific cytomorphologic features on the EUS-FNA cytology biopsy led to the correct diagnosis of LEC and prevention of unnecessary surgery in 7 patients. DISCUSSION Differentiating LECs from premalignant pancreatic cystic neoplasms remains difficult. Findings of an exophytic growth pattern of the lesion on abdominal imaging and the presence of specific cytomorphologic features in the EUS-FNA biopsy could help clinicians diagnose LEC preoperatively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent P Groot
- Department of Surgery, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Surgery, UMC Utrecht Cancer Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sameer S Thakker
- Department of Surgery, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Georgios Gemenetzis
- Department of Surgery, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Michaël Noë
- Department of Pathology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ammar A Javed
- Department of Surgery, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Richard A Burkhart
- Department of Surgery, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Behnoud B Noveiry
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - John L Cameron
- Department of Surgery, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Matthew J Weiss
- Department of Surgery, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christopher J VandenBussche
- Department of Pathology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Elliot K Fishman
- Department of Radiology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ralph H Hruban
- Department of Pathology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christopher L Wolfgang
- Department of Surgery, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Anne Marie Lennon
- Department of Surgery, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Gastroenterology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Radiology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jin He
- Department of Surgery, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Oh Y, Choi Y, Son SM, Lee J, Kim Y, Han JH, Park SM. Pancreatic Lymphoepithelial Cysts Diagnosed with Endosonography-guided Fine Needle Aspiration. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY 2018; 69:253-258. [PMID: 28449429 DOI: 10.4166/kjg.2017.69.4.253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Although lymphoepithelial cysts (LECs) of the pancreas are benign lesions, most of them have been treated with surgical resection due to diagnostic difficulty. We report a 66-year-old woman diagnosed with pancreatic LECs. Abdominal ultrasound revealed two masses in the pancreas, which were not visible on the abdominal computed tomography. In an abdominal magnetic resonance imaging, pancreas lesions showed solid tumors, which revealed a low signal intensity on T1-, moderate high signal intensity on T2 weighted images, and homogeneous delayed enhancement in the portal venous phase. Endosonography (EUS) revealed two hypoechoic round masses measuring 1.5 cm and 4.5 cm in the body and tail of the pancreas, respectively. EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) revealed squamous cells, amorphous keratinous debris, and lymphocytes. The patient was diagnosed with LECs of the pancreas. For the duration of the follow-up period of two years, imaging studies were unchanged. EUS-FNA is useful in making a definite diagnosis and avoiding unnecessary surgery. This is the first case of pancreatic LECs diagnosed with EUS-FNA in Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngmin Oh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Yonghyeok Choi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Seung Myoung Son
- Department of Pathology, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Jisun Lee
- Department of Radiology, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Yook Kim
- Department of Radiology, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Joung Ho Han
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Seon Mee Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea
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Borhani AA, Fasanella KE, Iranpour N, Zureikat AH, Singhi AD, Furlan A, Dasyam AK. Lymphoepithelial cyst of pancreas: spectrum of radiological findings with pathologic correlation. Abdom Radiol (NY) 2017; 42:877-883. [PMID: 27738791 DOI: 10.1007/s00261-016-0932-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of the study was to investigate imaging features as well as pathologic and clinical findings of lymphoepithelial cyst (LEC) of pancreas. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ten patients with surgically resected and pathologically proven LEC, found in a single institution database between 2000 and 2015, were evaluated in a retrospective fashion. Patients' demographics, clinical presentation, co-morbidities, imaging features, cytology and histopathology results, and serum/aspirate biomarkers levels were recorded. RESULTS Eighty percent of patients were male with median age of 59. All lesions were exophytic, with median size of 36 mm. 80% were classified as complex cystic lesions, showing enhancing septa or enhancing rim without measurable enhancing solid component. 80% were located in tail or body. In one patient with MRI, the lesion was mildly T1 hyperintense and markedly T2 hyperintense. All cases were anechoic or hypoechoic on EUS, and majority of them showed posterior acoustic enhancement. Of patients with available fluid aspirate analysis, 3 out of 4 had CEA level > 192 ng/mL and 1 out of 3 had elevated (>250 IU/ml) amylase level. Four out of 7 patients had elevated serum CA 19-9 levels (>37 U/mL); one patient with a value of 361 U/mL had co-existing pancreatic adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSION Round shape, mild complexity, and exophytic location in pancreatic body and tail can be suggestive of LECs. These features however are not specific and may be seen with other cystic pancreatic lesions. CT findings should be used in conjunction with EUS, cytology, and tumor marker studies to secure the diagnosis of LEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir A Borhani
- Division of Abdominal Imaging, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC Presbyterian, Radiology Suite 200 East Wing, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
| | - Kenneth E Fasanella
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC Presbyterian, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Negaur Iranpour
- Division of Abdominal Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, UPMC Presbyterian, Radiology Suite 200 East Wing, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Amer H Zureikat
- Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 5150 Centre Ave, Suite 421, Pittsburgh, PA, 15232, USA
| | - Aatur D Singhi
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 200 Lothrop Street, Scaife Hall A616.2, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Alessandro Furlan
- Division of Abdominal Imaging, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC Presbyterian, Radiology Suite 200 East Wing, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Anil K Dasyam
- Division of Abdominal Imaging, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC Presbyterian, Radiology Suite 200 East Wing, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
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Martin AK, Zhou Z. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration for the diagnosis of pancreatic cysts by combined cytopathology and cystic content analysis. World J Gastrointest Endosc 2015; 7:1157-1169. [PMID: 26504505 PMCID: PMC4613805 DOI: 10.4253/wjge.v7.i15.1157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Revised: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 09/08/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in imaging technology have resulted in an increase in incidental discoveries of pancreatic cystic lesions. Pancreatic cysts comprise a wide variety of lesions and include non-neoplastic cysts and neoplastic cysts. Because some pancreatic cysts have more of a malignant potential than others, it is absolutely essential that an accurate diagnosis is rendered so that effective care can be given to each patient. In many centers, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) has emerged as the modality of choice that enables one to distinguish between mucinous and non-mucinous lesion, diagnose malignancy and collect cyst fluid for further diagnostic studies, such as pancreatic enzyme levels, molecular analysis and other tumor biomarkers. The current review will focus on EUS-guided FNA and the cytological diagnosis for pancreatic cysts.
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