Solid-pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas

Background: Solid-pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) of the pancreas is a low-grade malignancy, which has been infrequently observed in adolescent and young adult females since first report by Frantz in 1959. In this article, we describe our experience of 8 cases of SPT with the clinical features, diagnosis, treatments, and outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and images of 8 patients who underwent surgery for SPT between January 1995 and December 2004. Results: Seven females and I male with the mean age of 29 years (range. 10 to 64) at presentation were identified. Three patients presented palpable abdominal mass, 2 with abdominal pain, and the remainder with no specific symptom. The mean diameter of the tumors was 7.9 cm (range, 4.0 to 10.0). Four were located in the tail. 3 in the body, and I in the head. Surgical procedure included distal pancreatectomy with/without splenectomy in 7 patients and Whipple operation in I with no surgical morbidity and mortality. All were alive without evidence of recurrence after mean follow-up of 26.4 months (range, I to 66). Conclusions: SPT of the pancreas is an unusual neoplasm and typically occurs in young females presenting well-demarcated pancreatic masses. which are amenable to cure by complete surgical resection.