title: [Serous microcystic adenoma of the head of the pancreas causing an obstructive jaundice].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Serous microcystic adenoma is a rare benign tumor of the exocrine pancreas originating from the ductal system and composed of a large number of small cysts covered by cuboid cells, filled with clear serous fluid and separated with fibrocolagenous stroma. Most frequently it appears in women in 7th and 8th decades, in the distal pancreas. It shows a very low malignant potential. In 2/3 of patients symptoms are uncharacteristic and in 1/3 they are absent When localised within the head of the pancreas it rarely causes an obstructive jaundice.
  
  
  METHODS
  We presented a 61-year-old female patient who for months had had mild and nonspecific abdominal symptoms developing to progressive obstructive jaundice. At surgery we revealed a rather large policystic mass of the head of the pancreas causing not only obstructive jaundice but also a venous stasis by compression and dislocation of the portomesenteric vein. The tumor was removed with pylorus preserving cephalic duodenopancreatectomy (Whipple's procedure modified by Longmire-Traverso). Histology confirmed serous microcystic adenoma of the pancreas. The postoperative recovery was uneventful and preoperative symptoms disappeared.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although very rare, serous microcystic adenoma might appear within the head of the pancreas and has to be taken into consideration in differential diagnosis of cystic lesions of the head of the pancreas. Very rarely the tumour might cause obstructive jaundice. Surgical resection, which might be demanding, leads to complete recovery.
authors.affiliation: Klinicki centar Srbije, Institut za bolesti digestivnog sistema, Beograd, Srbija. marcolov@eunet.yu
authors.forename: Radoje
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colović
authors.forename: Nikica
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grubor
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Micev
authors.forename: Vitomir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ranković
authors.forename: Slavko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matić
authors.forename: Stojan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Latincić
mesh_terms: D018293:Cystadenoma, Serous / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D041781:Jaundice, Obstructive / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D046790:Pancreas, Exocrine; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery