Percutaneous Cytologic Diagnosis of Solid Pseudopapillary Tumors of Pancreas in Children

Abstract

Solid pseudopapillary tumors of the pancreas, formerly known as Frantz tumors, are rare exocrine tumors that electively affect young women in their second and third decades of life, and are rarely observed in children. Histologic confirmation is nevertheless desirable before proceeding with treatment of pancreatic lesions, as appropriate treatment can range from conservative to ablative surgery. Here, we report 3 cases of solid pseudopapillary tumors of the pancreas and we postulate that percutaneous cytologic sample analysis (instead of biopsy) may be sufficient to reach an accurate diagnosis and eliminate differential diagnosis.