Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy with splenic preservation for serous cystadenoma: a case report and literature review

A minimally invasive approach can be beneficial in a spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy. This article reports a 71-year-old woman who presented to her internist with hypertension and persistent hypokalemia. A computed tomography scan to rule out a functional adrenal mass incidentally revealed a 4 cm x 3 cm x 2 cm serous cystadenoma of the distal pancreas and normal adrenal glands. The patient was referred to the general surgery service for resection of the distal pancreatic lesion. A laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy was performed. The lesion was completely excised, and the pathology revealed serous cystadenoma with focal fibrosis and atrophic acini. The postoperative advantages of this approach were the early return of bowel function, minimal narcotic requirements, and early resumption of normal activities. This case illustrates the advantages of minimally invasive surgery in the performance of a spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy.