Figure 1
Weight loss, hypogastric abdominal pain
Mucin-producing cystadenocarcinoma of the tail of pancreas.
The patient was referred to our Institution with weight loss and abdominal pain of the left hypocondrium which increased when patient was in clinostatic position; two days later contrast-enhanced CT scan detected a fluid-filled mass (8x7.5x6 cm) with central septae and thick wall suspicious for cystadenoma/cystadenocarcinoma. No dilatation of the main pancreatic duct (Wirsung) was detected.
Patient underwent a distal pancreatectomy.
Cystic neoplasms are rare, accounting for less than 1% of pancreatic tumors.
Since the advent of computed tomography (CT) an increasing number of these lesions are being discovered incidentally.
At present, our ability to definitively differentiate between benign serous cystadenoma and malignant mucinous/cystadenocarcinoma is limited.
Because of this controversy exists as to their appropriate surgical management.
References
[1]
Procacci C, Biasiutti C, Carbognin G, Accordini S, Bicego E, Guarise A, Spoto E,
Andreis IA, De Marco R, Megibow AJ (1999) Characterization of cystic tumors of the pancreas: CT accuracy. J Comput Assist Tomogr 23:906-1002. (PMID: 10589565)
[2] Martin I, Hammond P, Scott J, Redhead D, Carter DC, Garden OJ (1998) Cystic tumors of pancreas. Br J Surg 85:1484-1486. (PMID: 9823906)
[3] Gonzalez G M et al (1995) Cystic neoplasm of the pancreas: report of 3 cases presenting diagnostic difficulties. Rev Invest Clin 47:43-8. (PMID: 3656956)
Case information
| URL: | https://eurorad.org/case/422 |
| DOI: | 10.1594/EURORAD/CASE.422 |
| ISSN: | 1563-4086 |
Figure 2
Figure 1
Figure 2
