Unusual cystic presentation of an endocrine carcinoma of the jejunum

Abstract

The cystic presentation of endocrine tumours is rare and raises difficult diagnostic problems. So far, the only cases of cystic digestive endocrine tumours reported in the literature are of pancreatic origin. We report the unusual observation of a jejunal endocrine carcinoma presenting as a cystic abdominal mass. A 59-year-old woman was referred for chest and abdominal pain. Imaging studies revealed multiple cystic nodules in the liver and a large sus-mesocolic cystic lesion of probable intestinal origin. Biopsies of the extra-hepatic mass and liver nodules showed endocrine tumour. Surgical resection of the jejunal mass and of liver segment III were performed. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of jejunal endocrine carcinoma metastatic to the liver. Large areas of the primary and secondary tumours presented an unusual vesicular architecture, responsible for the cystic presentation. No adjuvant treatment was attempted. This observation underlines the difficult diagnostic problems raised by the cystic presentation of digestive endocrine tumours.