Successful treatment of pancreatic schwannoma by enucleation: A case report

Rationale:Pancreatic schwannomas are extremely rare and are difficult to diagnose preoperatively. Over the past 50 years, only 96 cases of pancreatic schwannoma have been reported in English literature. Herein, we report a case of pancreatic schwannoma treated with enucleation.Patient concerns:A 66-year-old woman visited a local hospital due to ventosities. Ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed a pancreatic mass. She visited our hospital for further diagnosis and treatment.Diagnosis and interventions:Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a tumor in the pancreatic body, and a solid pseudopapillary tumor was considered preoperatively. During the surgery, a pancreatic mass was found growing in the pancreatic body and tail. A successful tumor enucleation was performed. The mass was 7 × 6 × 3 cm in size with a thin capsule. Pathological examination revealed that the tumor was mainly composed of spindle-shaped cells with a palisading arrangement and no atypia. Both hypercellular and hypocellular areas were visible. Immunohistochemical staining showed that protein S-100 was strongly positive. The tumor was diagnosed as a benign schwannoma originating from the pancreatic body and tail.Outcomes:Postoperatively, the patient showed good recovery. During the 24-month follow-up period, the patient remained well and free of complications.Lessons:Pancreatic schwannomas are extremely rare and difficult to diagnose using imaging examinations. Enucleation is a safe and efficacious treatment for exophytic pancreatic schwannomas.     

Schwannoma in the hepatoduodenal ligament: A case report and literature review

Schwannomas are mesenchymal neoplasms with low malignant potential that arise from Schwann cells. They can occur almost anywhere, although the most common locations are the head, neck and extremities. Primary benign schwannoma of the hepatoduodenal ligament is rare. To date, only three cases have been reported in the English literature. In the present study, we report a case of hepatoduodenal ligament schwannoma in a 43-year-old male, who was admitted to our hospital because of a abdominal mass found by physical examination. It was hard to determine the definitive location and diagnosis of the mass using ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. During laparotomy, the mass was found in the hepatoduodenal ligament and close to the cholecystic duct, so we resected the gallbladder and cholecystic duct along with the mass. The gross specimen revealed an 8.5 cm × 5.5 cm × 3.0 cm localized tumor. Microscopic examination showed that the tumor was mainly composed of spindle-shaped cells. Immunohistochemical staining showed a strong positive S-100 protein reaction. Finally, the lesion was diagnosed as a benign schwannoma in the hepatoduodenal ligament. However, one month later, the patient was readmitted to our hospital because of skin and sclera jaundice caused by common bile duct stenosis without common bile duct stone or tumor. The patient recovered well after implantation of a common bile duct stent under endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. He was followed up for a period of 17 mo, during which he was well with no complications.     

Central Pancreatectomy as a Good Solution in Frantz Tumor Resection: A Case Report

Solid pseudopapillary tumors of the pancreas located in the head or body are a challenging clinical problem because they usually demand extensive surgical procedures, and in most reported cases pancreaticoduodenectomy is the operation of choice in such a location. An alternative method of surgery in precisely selected patients is a procedure known as central pancreatectomy.The authors present the case of a 13-year-old girl with a 5 cm tumor located in the body of the pancreas. The favorable anatomical location of the tumor suggested central pancreatic resection. The tumor was excised with 1 cm oncologic margins from both sides, and the distal remnant of the pancreas was protected with a Roux-en-Y loop. In the postoperative period the patient required reoperation because of intensive bleeding in the resection site but the duodenal loop was saved and the patient protected from biliary tract reconstruction and exocrine and endocrine insufficiency.Progress in pancreatic surgery, especially in children, allows less radical options for the reason that preservation of endocrine and exocrine function is very important and protects them, especially from insulin-dependent diabetes in the future.     

Pancreatic schwannoma: Case report and an updated 30-year review of the literature yielding 47 cases

Pancreatic schwannomas are rare neoplasms. Authors briefly describe a 64-year-old female patient with cystic pancreatic schwannoma mimicking other cystic tumors and review the literature. Databases for PubMed were searched for English-language articles from 1980 to 2010 using a list of keywords, as well as references from review articles. Only 41 articles, including 47 cases, have been reported in the English literature. The mean age was 55.7 years (range 20-87 years), with 45% of patients being male. Mean tumor size was 6.2 cm (range 1-20 cm). Tumor location was the head (40%), head and body (6%), body (21%), body and tail (15%), tail (4%), and uncinate process (13%). Thirty-four percent of patients exhibited solid tumors and 60% of patients exhibited cystic tumors. Treatment included pancreaticoduodenectomy (32%), distal pancreatectomy (21%), enucleation (15%), unresectable (4%), refused operation (2%) and the detail of resection was not specified in 26% of patients. No patients died of disease with a mean follow-up of 15.7 mo (range 3-65 mo), although 5 (11%) patients had a malignancy. The tumor size was significantly related to malignant tumor (13.8 ± 6.2 cm for malignancy vs 5.5 ± 4.4 cm for benign, P = 0.001) and cystic formation (7.9 ± 5.9 cm for cystic tumor vs 3.9 ± 2.4 cm for solid tumor, P = 0.005). The preoperative diagnosis of pancreatic schwannoma remains difficult. Cystic pancreatic schwannomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic neoplasms and pseudocysts. In our case, intraoperative frozen section confirmed the diagnosis of a schwannoma. Simple enucleation may be adequate, if this is possible.     

胰腺神经鞘瘤50例

目的:分析胰腺神经鞘瘤的特点并探讨其诊治方法.方法:对文献上报告的49例及我院收治的1例胰腺神经鞘瘤患者的临床特点进行回顾性分析.结果:胰头病变25例,胰体9例,胰体/尾部6例,胰尾部5例,胰头/体部2例,定位不明的2例,胰颈部1例.实性肿物18例,囊性25例,7例患者肿瘤的性质不能确定.49例患者手术切除,胰十二指肠切除术13例,远端胰腺切除术12例,肿物局部切除术12例,单纯肿物核除术8例,术式不明2例,肿物无法切除1例,活检1例,拒绝手术1例.随访时间最长的达到9a,无肿瘤复发和转移.结论:胰腺神经鞘瘤术前诊断困难,绝大部分为良性,恶性少见,确诊靠病理,良性者可行肿瘤核除术,恶性者可根治性切除,术中快速病理切片有助于决定手术方式.     

Pancreatic benign schwannoma treated by simple enucleation: case report and review of literature

Benign schwannoma in the pancreatic head is very rare, with only 11 patients being reported in the English literature from a Medline search. Furthermore, only 1 of them was treated by simple enucleation. Herein, we present another enucleation case: a 71-year-old male patient with a 1.5 x 1.2-cm low-density mass, mimicking a cystic lesion located at the head of pancreas, which was detected by computed tomography. This tumor failed to be discovered by abdominal ultrasound. At laparotomy, a solid mass 1 cm in diameter was identified; it was the smallest one in the pancreatic head according to the 11 previous reported cases. No complications were found after the operation. At 10-month follow-up, the patient remains asymptomatic and has no signs of recurrence. The data of the 12 patients indicated that simple minimal invasive enucleation for small benign schwannoma in the pancreatic head was feasible and safe; early detection and early treatment of the tumor were helpful in increasing the ratio of enucleation and avoiding a very invasive Whipple operation.     

Sclerosing pancreatitis showing rapidly progressive changes with recurrent mass formation

Summary Conclusion Sclerosing pancreatitis might develop repeatedly or might rapidly extend to the whole pancreas with recurrent mass formation. Background Nothing is known concerning course or development of sclerosing pancreatitis. Methods A 63-yr-old male was followed up for 2.5 yr. Results The patient was admitted because of a tumor in the body and tail of the pancreas. Serum pancreatic enzymes were transiently elevated, but tumor markers were all negative. Imaging studies showed a tumor 7 cm in size. The main pancreatic duct was normal in the head and obstructed at the body on endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERCP). The K-ras oncogene mutation was positive in pure pancreatic juice. Distal pancreatectomy was performed because pancreatic cancer was highly suspected. Pathological findings showed that the tumor was a densely fibrotic mass without malignant cells. Inflammatory cell infiltration was observed in the stroma. One year later, another mass 3 cm in size was noted in the remnant pancreatic head. ERCP revealed diffuse irregular narrowing of the main pancreatic duct, its branches, and the common bile duct. Liver dysfunction improved and an elevation of serum pancreatic enzymes subsided without any specific treatment, and the mass diminished in size. The patterns of various imaging studies on the second tumor were the same as those of the previous resected mass. Corticosteroid was not administered.     

Serous cystadenoma of the pancreas with invasive growth: benign or malignant?

We describe a case of serous cystadenoma, that invaded a lymph node and adipose tissue. Preoperatively, the cystic lesion of the pancreas was diagnosed as a serous cystadenoma and subsequently the patient, a 71-yr-old woman, underwent distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy. Macroscopically, a greyish white, externally lobulated and partly ovoid tumor, measuring 12 × 8.5 × 5 cm, occupied the pancreatic body and tail extensively. In cross-section, multiple nodules were observed, which measured from 0.5 to 3 cm in diameter, were separated by hyalinized fibrous septa and were filled with numerous microcysts. Light microscopic findings were consistent with those for serous cystadenoma. At the splenic hilus, the tumor was found to have invaded the lymph node and adipose tissue. Based on the clinicopathological features of the six reported cases, including the present case (which behaved in a malignant fashion in terms of pathological findings of invasion or metastasis), serous cystadenoma should be regarded as having the potential for malignant growth.     

Nonfunctioning islet cell carcinoma of the pancreas with an initial appearance of massive hemorrhage

Diagnosis of nonfunctioning tumors is difficult, since they often lack apparent clinical signs and symptoms. Here we report nonfunctioning islet cell carcinoma of the pancreas with massive hemorrhage. A 57-year-old woman who had sudden severe abdominal pain and high fever was admitted to our hospital. A series of examinations after admission revealed cystic tumor located at the tail of the pancreas and a hematoma adjacent to the tumor. The plasma levels of hormones, except for prolactin, were normal. After antibiotic treatment, blood transfusion, and other conservative therapy had produced a stable condition, operation was performed. The operation revealed a tumor measuring 6.2×7.8×7.2 cm located at the pancreatic tail and a hematoma 3.2×2.7×2.5 cm adjacent to the tumor. Distal pancreatectomy, including the tumor, combined with splenectomy and removal of the hematoma, was carried out. The surgical specimen showed a nonfunctioning islet cell carcinoma arising from the pancreatic tail; this tumor had ruptured and was bleeding. Seventeen months after the operation, the patient is alive without recurrence or symptoms. The major characteristic in this patient was the sudden severe abdominal pain and shock due to bleeding from the tumor, which features may not have been reported in the literature.     

Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy in a patient with aberrant splenic artery originating from the superior mesenteric artery: A case report

Rationale:Splenic artery originating from the superior mesenteric artery is extremely rare. Because of this, its significance in laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy has never been reported. Here, we present the first case of laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy in a patient with a splenic artery arising from the superior mesenteric artery.Patient concerns:A 46-year-old Japanese woman with type 2 diabetes mellitus presented with worsening glycemic control. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a pancreatic tail mass.Diagnoses:The patient was diagnosed with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration. Preoperative computed tomography showed that the splenic artery with branches of dorsal pancreatic artery originated from the superior mesenteric artery.Interventions:The patient underwent laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy. Prior to pancreatectomy, the splenic artery and its dorsal pancreatic branches were clamped using the superior and inferior approaches, respectively, to avoid bleeding and congestion.Outcomes:The postoperative course was uneventful.Lessons:Preoperative evaluation of anatomical variants and development of strategies are important to avoid intraoperative complications in pancreatic surgery. Our results revealed that laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy can be performed safely by strategic approach even in a patient with a rare aberrant splenic artery.     

Central pancreatectomy for a pancreatic ganglioneuroma in a patient with previous neuroblastoma

This is a case presentation of a 28-year-old woman with a mass at thejunction of the neck and the body of the pancreas and a childhood history of a resected adrenal neuroblastoma. A central pancreatectomy was performed in this patient. The pathology revealed a benign ganglio-neuroma. Ganglioneuromas and their association with a neuroblastoma are briefly reviewed. The indications and contraindications for, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of, a central pancreatic resection are discussed.     

Malignant schwannoma of the pancreas involving transversal colon treated with en-bloc resection

Pancreatic schwannoma is a very uncommon tumor of the pancreas,with only 27 cases reported.Most pancreatic schwannomas are benign,with only four malignant tumors reported.We describe a case of giant malignant schwannoma of the pancreatic body and tail,which involved the transverse colon.The tumor was treated successfully with en bloc distal splenopancreatectomy and colon resection.This is believed to be the first reported radical operation for malignant schwannoma of the pancreatic body,with infiltration of...     

Malignant schwannoma of the pancreas involving transversal colon treated with en-bloc resection

Pancreatic schwannoma is a very uncommon tumor of the pancreas,with only 27 cases reported.Most pancreatic schwannomas are benign,with only four malignant tumors reported.We describe a case of giant malignant schwannoma of the pancreatic body and tail,which involved the transverse colon.The tumor was treated successfully with en bloc distal splenopancreatectomy and colon resection.This is believed to be the first reported radical operation for malignant schwannoma of the pancreatic body,with infiltration of...     

Diagnostic usefulness of laparoscopic fine‐needle aspiration for intraductal papillary tumor of the pancreas

A 67‐year‐old man who was followed up for 20 years for a diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis developed a unilocular cystic lesion in the pancreatic body and a gallstone. The cystic lesion (3.0 cm in diameter) was considered to be a pseudocyst with suspicion of a mucinous cystic tumor. Laparoscopic ultrasonography and fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) were performed following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Under laparoscopic observation, the pinhole puncture was immediately closed. Analysis of the fluid revealed clusters of epithelial cells with mild atypia, remarkably elevated tumor markers (carcinoembryonic antigen and CA19‐9) and a K‐ras oncogene mutation. Distal pancreatectomy was performed 3 months after laparoscopic FNA and the pancreatic mass was diagnosed as an intraductal papillary tumor. The patient’s postoperative course was uneventful and he continues to do well without signs of recurrence. Laparoscopic FNA appears useful and safe for the diagnosis of cystic masses in the pancreas.     

Adenosquamous carcinoma of the pancreas: report of two cases

Adenosquamous carcinoma of the pancreas is a rare variant of pancreatic exocrine carcinoma. We herein report two patients with this entity. One patient was a 60-yr-old Japanese man complaining of a palpable mass, 5.5 cm in the greatest diameter, in the epigastrium. Serum CA 19–9 was increased (2010 U/ml). Ultrasonography and computed tomography showed a mass in the pancreatic tail with central necrosis and invading the posterior wall of the stomach. Angiography showed an encasement of the splenic artery and complete obstruction of the splenic vein. Distal pancreatectomy, splenectomy, and partial resection of the stomach were done. The patient died of uncontrolled bleeding from the duodenal ulcer four months after operation. The other patient was a 73-yr-old man who presented with jaundice. The CA 19–9 was also elevated (354.8 U/ml). Ultrasonography showed a pancreatic head mass of heterogeneous echogeneity and computed tomography demonstrated a cystic mass with an enhanced rim, indicating necrosis in the tumor center. Angiography showed a hypervascular mass in the head of the pancreas. Pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy was done, but the patient died of multiple liver metastases 10 months after the operation. From our experience with the two patients, the presence of central necrosis in an infiltrative huge pancreatic tumor seems to be suggestive of the diagnosis of adenosquamous carcinoma of the pancreas.     

Dermoid cyst of the pancreas. Case report and review of the literature

During an annual check-up in a 46 year-old man, a round mass was discovered in the left hypochondrium upon abdominal ultrasonography. Computed tomographic scan located the mass at the upper border of the body of the pancreas, suggesting an expansive process. Left pancreatectomy was performed, leading to the discovery of a dermoid cyst. This cyst was apparently part of the pancreatic parenchyma. Only 11 cases of dermoid cysts of the pancreas have been reported between 1918 and 1977. Elective enucleation of the cyst is thought to be adequate surgical treatment.     

Diagnosis and treatment of solid-pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas

BACKGROUND: Solid-pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) of the pancreas is a rare exocrine pancreatic tumor. Despite the increasing recognition of the tumor in recent years, its pathogenesis and apparent therapeutic algorithm remain unclear. This study was designed to define the clinical, imaging, and pathologic features and to improve the diagnosis and treatment of this rare disease. METHOD: The clinical, imaging, and pathologic findings of 9 SPT patients managed in our hospital between 2001 and 2005 were retrospectively analyzed, and related literatures were reviewed. RESULTS: In the 9 patients aged from 14 to 68 years, 8 were female and 1 male. The mean age of these patients at diagnosis was 30 years. Initially, 8 patients complained of vague abdominal pain and one patient had pancreatic mass detected incidentally by abdominal CT. The levels of blood and urine amylase and tumor markers were all within the normal range. B-US, CT and MRI demonstrated that tumors were well encapsulated and contained some degree of internal hemorrhage or cystic degeneration. The mean transverse diameter of these tumors was 5.4 cm (range, 2-10.5 cm). The tumors were located at the head (2 patients), body (2), body and tail junction (4), and tail (1) of the pancreas. Surgical procedures included pancreaticoduodenectomy, distal pancreatectomy, distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy, and enucleation. Histological examination showed solidified cystic areas and papillary protrusions. Two malignant tumors demonstrated retroperitoneal metastases and vascular invasion. Follow-up for 2.5 years on average showed that one patient died of tumor recurrence at 10 months and the rest were alive. CONCLUSIONS: SPT exhibits unique clinical and pathologic features and is readily diagnosed by its characteristic imaging and histological appearance. Surgical resection of the primary tumor and metastases is the treatment of choice.     

A case of nonfunctioning islet cell tumor with hyperammonemia and hyperamylasemia

A case of nonfunctioning islet cell tumor with hyperammonemia and hyperamylasemia is reported. A 67-year-old female was admitted in an unconsciousness state, with a large abdominal mass about 10×10 cm in size. Hyperammonemia and hyperamylasemia were evident. Blood sugar levels, electroencephalogram (EEG), and brain scan were normal. After admission, lactulose and gabexate mesilate were administered for the hyperammonemia and hyperamylasemia. Serum ammonia levels returned to the normal range within 2 weeks, but serum amylase levels failed to decrease. Results of the oral glucose tolerance test were normal. A contrast computed tomographic (CT) scan revealed a tumor with a homogeneous enhancement pattern. Angiography demonstrated a hypervascular pancreatic tumor. Distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy was performed on the basis of a preoperative diagnosis of pancreatic tumor with extrapancreatic growth. Histological examination showed nonfunctioning islet cell tumor, with evidence of vascular invasion of tumor cells. Production of pancreatic hormones was not noted. The patient promptly returned to normal consciousness, and no elevation of ammonia or amylase was observed other than an incidental elevation of the latter due to pseudocyst formation. The hyperamylasemia was obviously related to tumor growth, and the pancreatic tumor itself may have contributed to the hyperammonemia.     

A case of spindle cell type anaplastic carcinoma of the pancreas -review of Japanese case report-

We present a case of spindle cell type anaplastic carcinoma of the pancreas in a 63-year-old woman. A pancreatic mass was incidentally detected by routine abdominal ultrasonography examination for her hepatitis B infection, and she was admitted to our hospital for further examination. Computed tomography revealed a hypo-vascular mass measuring 25mm in maximal dimension at the pancreas body. Endoscopic ultrasonography showed a hypoechoic mass as the pancreas body and a swollen lymph node near the tumor. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography revealed disruption of the main pancreatic duct, and carcinoma cells were detected in pancreatic juice obtained via an endoscopic nasopancreatic drainage tube. We diagnosed this case as an invasive ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas body, therefore the distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy (D1+α) was performed. The histopathological diagnosis for this case was a "spindle cell type anaplastic carcinoma of the pancreas". The patient has remained well with no evidence of recurrence for 9 months since her operation.     

Middle-preserving pancreatectomy for advanced transverse colon cancer invading the duodenun and non-functioning endocrine tumor in the pancreatic tail

A 73-year-old female was referred to our hospital with a diagnosis of advanced transverse colon cancer with severe anemia and body weight loss. Preoperative evaluations, including colonoscopy, gastroduodenoscopy, and computed tomography, revealed not only a transverse colon cancer massively invading the duodenum, but also a non-functioning endocrine tumor in the pancreatic tail. We performed middle-preserving pancreatectomy (MPP) with right hemicolectomy for these tumors with a curative intent. After the resection, about 6 cm of the body of the pancreas was preserved, and signs of diabetes mellitus have not appeared. The postoperative course was complicated by a grade B pancreatic fistula, but this was successfully treated with conservative management. After a 33-day hospital stay, the patient returned to daily life without signs of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. Although the long-term follow-up of the patient is indispensable, in this case, MPP might be able to lead to the curative resection of transverse colon cancer massively invading the duodenum and non-functioning endocrine tumor in the pancreatic tail with preservation of pancreatic function.