Frantz's tumor: is mutilating surgery always justified in young patients?
BACKGROUND
Solid pseudopapillary tumor (Frantz's tumor) of the pancreas is a rare lesion. It is of low-grade malignancy but can cause extensive local invasion. The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of Frantz's tumors after incomplete resection.


METHODS
We contacted all authors who published case reports describing incomplete resection of Frantz's tumor between 1985 and 2008 to request follow-up information.


RESULTS
Follow-up information was obtained for 11 out 18 patients who underwent incomplete resection. Estimated median survival rate was 5.7 years (69.5 months).


CONCLUSIONS
Since Frantz's tumor typically develops mainly in children and young women, a 5.7 year survival rate is unacceptable. Thus complete resection of locally invasive solid-pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas is always justified, even at the price of difficult, mutilating surgery.
Campanile
M
M
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hôpital Timone Enfants, Marseille, France. manuela778@virgilio.it
Nicolas
A
A
LeBel
S
S
Delarue
A
A
Guys
J M
JM
de Lagausie
P
P
D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome