title: Papillary cystic neoplasm of the pancreas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Papillary cystic neoplasm of the pancreas is a rare disorder that occurs most commonly in young women. It has a low potential for malignancy, and the prognosis following resection is favourable.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 18-year-old white girl presented with a palpable mass in the right hypochondrium on physical examination associated with epigastric pain, nausea and vomiting, but no fever. Upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy revealed extrinsic compression of the posterior wall of the antrum and duodenal bulb with no mucosal lesion. Computed tomography (CT) scan and then laparotomy revealed a large tumour adjacent to the hepatic hilum and originating from the head of pancreas. Pancreatoduodenectomy was performed, and a diagnosis of papillary cystic neoplasm of the pancreas was made.There was no evidence of recurrence after 6 years of follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A radical surgical approach is justified for papillary cystic neoplasm of the pancreas because of its biological behaviour, local aggressiveness and low incidence of metastases.
authors.affiliation: Surgery Service, Hospital Ernesto Dornelles, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Chedid
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Tiburi
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Bassani
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Villwock
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Chedid