Diagnosis and surgical treatment of solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of pancreas

Abstract

Objective To review our experience in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) of the pancreas which can be used as a reference for other doctors to avoid misdiagnosis and to provide a better treatment.Method The clinical,laboratory,radiological,pathological and operative data of 24 patients with SPN of the pancreas operated between February 2001 to December 2009 were collected and retrospectively analyzed.Results 23 of 24 patients were female and the mean age was 31 years.The most common clinical presentations were vague abdominal pain and abdominal mass.In most cases,abdominal imaging showed a solid or a solid-cystic mass in the tail or head of pancreas.All patients received surgery.20 of 22 patients who received curative resection were alive with no evidence of tumour recurrence.One patient who had a R1 resection died 42 months after surgery.The remaining patient was alive after a second operation.Conclnsions SPN of the pancreas is a tumour with low malignancy.A correct diagnosis of SPN of the pancreas is made on its clinical,radiological and histopathological characteristics.Radical surgical resection is the treatment of choice.For patients with an advanced disease,palliative resection is beneficial. Key words: Pancreatic neoplasms; Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm; Diagnosis; Treatment