Primary pancreatic lymphoma: diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma.
OBJECTIVE
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma predominantly involving the pancreas is a rare tumor and accounts for less than 0.7% of all pancreatic malignancies and 1% of extranodal lymphomas. Diagnosis of primary pancreatic lymphoma can be difficult because it may mimic carcinoma. The principal aims of this review were to highlight the difficulties encountered in making a diagnosis and to identify the role of surgery.


METHODS
A PubMed search was conducted using the following terms: primary pancreatic lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the pancreas. Additional references were sourced from key articles.


RESULTS
A total of 89 reported cases of pancreatic lymphoma between 1951 and 2005 were reviewed. An accurate preoperative diagnosis of primary pancreatic lymphoma is not always possible. A complete response rate of 100% and a long-term survival rate of 94% have been reported with surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy when compared with a 5-year survival rate of less than 50% and an overall 3-year disease-free survival rate of 44% with current chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or combined methods.


CONCLUSIONS
Pancreaticoduodenectomy may have a therapeutic role in association with chemotherapy.
Battula
Narendra
N
Kings College Hospital, London, UK.
Srinivasan
Parthi
P
Prachalias
Andreas
A
Rela
Mohamed
M
Heaton
Nigel
N
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010180:Pancreatectomy; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents