Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas: a case report with review of the diagnostic dilemmas and tumor behavior

Role of endoscopic ultrasound in the characterization of solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas

BACKGROUND

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) is an uncommon pathology of the pancreas with unpredictable malignant potential. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) assessment plays a vital role in lesion characterization and confirmation of the tissue diagnosis. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the imaging assessment of these lesions.

AIM

To determine the characteristic EUS features of SPN and define its role in preoperative assessment.

METHODS

This was an international, multicenter, retrospective, observational study of prospective cohorts from 7 large hepatopancreaticobiliary centers. All cases with postoperative histology of SPN were included in the study. Data collected included clinical, biochemical, histological and EUS characteristics.

RESULTS

One hundred and six patients with the diagnosis of SPN were included. The mean age was 26 years (range 9 to 70 years), with female predominance (89.6%). The most frequent clinical presentation was abdominal pain (80/106; 75.5%). The mean diameter of the lesion was 53.7 mm (range 15 to 130 mm), with the slight predominant location in the head of the pancreas (44/106; 41.5%). The majority of lesions presented with solid imaging features (59/106; 55.7%) although 33.0% (35/106) had mixed solid/cystic characteristics and 11.3% (12/106) had cystic morphology. Calcification was observed in only 4 (3.8%) cases. Main pancreatic duct dilation was uncommon, evident in only 2 cases (1.9%), whilst common bile duct dilation was observed in 5 (11.3%) cases. One patient demonstrated a double duct sign at presentation. Elastography and Doppler evaluation demonstrated inconsistent appearances with no emergence of a predictable pattern. EUS guided biopsy was performed using three different types of needles: Fine needle aspiration (67/106; 63.2%), fine needle biopsy (37/106; 34.9%), and Sonar Trucut (2/106; 1.9%). The diagnosis was conclusive in 103 (97.2%) cases. Ninety-seven patients were treated surgically (91.5%) and the post-surgical SPN diagnosis was confirmed in all cases. During the 2-year follow-up period, no recurrence was observed.

CONCLUSION

SPN presented primarily as a solid lesion on endosonographic assessment. The lesion tended to be located in the head or body of the pancreas. There was no consistent characteristic pattern apparent on either elastography or Doppler assessment. Similarly SPN did not frequently cause stricture of the pancreatic duct or common bile duct. Importantly, we confirmed that EUS-guided biopsy was an efficient and safe diagnostic tool. The needle type used does not appear to have a significant impact on the diagnostic yield. Overall SPN remains a challenging diagnosis based on EUS imaging with no pathognomonic features. EUS guided biopsy remains the gold standard in establishing the diagnosis.

[The histological and immunohistochemical diagnosis of solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas and its differential diagnosis]

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas is a rare tumor of uncertain histogenesis, described separately by Gruber and Frantz, that accounts for between approximately 1% and 3% of pancreatic neoplasms. It is characterized by a cystic and solid pattern of growth patterns with formation of pseudopapillae. It occurs primarily in young women, although cases in children and older patients and men have been reported. The tumor is of low-grade malignant potential, as the majority of the cases are cured by simple but complete surgical resection. Knowledge of the unique morphologic characteristics of this neoplasm is essential for the correct diagnosis. We review herein the pathologic and immunohistochemical features of this neoplasm and its differential diagnosis with other pancreatic tumors.

Solid Pseudopapillary Neoplasms of the Pancreas: A Surgical and Genetic Enigma

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasms of the pancreas are rare tumors accounting for 1-2% of pancreatic exocrine neoplasms. This entity was first described by Dr. Frantz in 1959 and was defined by the World Health Organization in 1996 as "solid pseudopapillary tumor." It is most often a benign neoplasm, but 10-15% of the cases are malignant. Over the past decades, the incidence of this tumor is increasing. However, many surgeons are still unfamiliar with this neoplasm and its unique characteristics, which can lead to pitfalls in the diagnosis and treatment. The correct diagnosis of SPNP is of utmost importance since it has a low malignant potential and with the appropriate treatment, patients have a long life expectancy. There are many genetic alterations, involving various signaling pathways that have been associated with SPNP and are very important in diagnosing the tumor. The cornerstone of SPNP treatment includes surgical excision of the tumor, preserving as much pancreatic tissue as possible. We review the information in the literature regarding more organ-preserving techniques and possible clinical features that might indicate a malignant potential, thus demanding a more radical intraoperative excision.

SOLID PSEUDOPAPILLARY NEOPLASM OF THE PANCREAS

BACKGROUND

The solid pseudopapillary neoplasm is a rare tumor of the pancreas. However, it´s etiology still maintain discussions.

AIM

To analyze it´s clinical data, diagnosis and treatment.

METHODS

A retrospective study of medical records of all patients treated from January 1997 until July 2015.

RESULTS

Were identified 17 cases. Most patients were women (94.11%) and the average age was 32.88 years. The main complaint was abdominal mass (47.05%). The most frequent location was in the body/tail of the pancreas (72.22%) and the most frequently performed surgery was distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy (64.70%). No patient had metastases at diagnosis. Conservative surgery for pancreatic parenchyma was performed in only three cases. The rate of complications in the postoperative period was 35.29% and the main complication was pancreatic fistula (29.41%). No patient underwent adjuvant treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The treatment is surgical and the most common clinical presentation is abdominal mass. Distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy was the most frequently performed surgery for its treatment.

Solid pseudopapillary tumor of pancreas: A lesser known entity-diagnosis and pitfalls: A case report

Solid pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) is a rare pancreatic neoplasm with a reported incidence of 0.1% to 2.7% of all pancreatic tumors. Because radiological presentation of pancreatic tumors is quite overlapping, distinctive features in fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) helps in its diagnosis preoperatively. Being a low-grade malignancy presenting predominantly in young females, correct preoperative diagnosis minimizes the need of extensive surgery. SPT carries good prognosis without any adjuvant chemotherapy/radiotherapy in most cases, even in the presence of metastatic disease. On the other hand, aggressive surgical resection is required for ductal adenocarcinoma which is more common pancreatic tumor (90%). We report here a case of a 49-year-old female diagnosed as SPT. The importance of the need for the radiologist, pathologist, and surgeon to be familiar with SPT is highlighted so that it is more often diagnosed as there are significant therapeutic and prognostic implications.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors: a case report

Advances in the identification of gastrointestinal stromal tumors, its molecular and immunohiostochemical basis, and its management have been a watershed in the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors. This paradigm shift occurred over the last two decades and gastrointestinal stromal tumors have now come to be understood as rare gastrointestinal tract tumors with predictable behavior and outcome, replacing the older terminologies like leiomyoma, schwannoma or leiomyosarcoma. This report presents a case of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor operated recently in a 47-year-old female patient and the outcome, as well as literature review of the pathological identification, sites of origin, and factors predicting its behavior, prognosis and treatment.