Surgical treatment of pancreatic tumors in children.

Abstract

Background: Pancreatic tumors in children are uncommon. The knowledge of their presentation accrues principally through institutional case series. The very limited experience, together with the broad histological heterogeneity, has made it difficult to identify possible prognostic factors and develop treatments protocol. The aim of the present paper was perfection treatment of pancreatic tumors in children. Methods: Retrospective review of medical records and pathology reports of children who underwent surgery at National Cancer Institute from 1991 through 2016. Results: between 1990 and 2016, 18 children with pancreatic tumors were diagnosed at our institute. 2 patients( 11,7%) were treated by chemotherapy, 1 patient (5,6%) was treated by radiological therapy, in 1 case (5,6%) patient underwent symptomatic operation, in 1 case (5,6%) a pancreatic cyst was diagnosed intraoperatively and radical operation was not use. Surgical treatment was achieved in 12 patients (70,6%). RO resection was achieved in all cases. There was no postoperative mortality, but postoperative complications occurred in 1 case (8,3%) and was treated conservatively. At a median follow-up of 43 months (range 12-842 months) there were 2 tumors recurrence (16,7%). No patients had postoperative pancreatic exocrine or endocrine insufficiencies. Conclusion: In the setting of a high-volume surgical center, radical resection of pancreatic tumors in children is associated with acceptable postoperative morbidity and favorable long-term outcome.